Audrey's Many Faces (1 Month)

Audrey's Adventures

I will spare you the crazy details this adventure but I wanted to get something rough down for now. I had Audrey on the Thursday the 25th. We spent two nights in the hospital before we came home to our apartment in Texas. I was a little overwhelmed because there was so much that needed to be done before we moved that Sunday. Paul's brother and his wife were our heroes. They fed us that evening and Paul's brother came over in the morning to help Paul finish picking up the house and packing the car. I tried to put on my games face as we got in the car Sunday afternoon and made our way back to Utah. I know your thinking this may sound crazy but you do what you have to do. Paul started school on Monday and we had to be back as soon as possible. We knew we would be a couple days late but we finally made it Tuesday evening. Audrey is such a good baby and slept through most of it, although I don't think she likes her car seat anymore. My delivery went better than planned, but as we left I wasn't sure if I was actually going to make it that far. Paul gave Audrey and I a blessing before we left and I know that is what held us together.
My parents have taken us in and have been so great to let us stay here until we find an apartment. It's been nice to have my little sisters hold Audrey when I want to take a shower and be able to take a nap whenever I want. I have a feeling when I leave here I'm going to miss being spoiled.

These pictures were taken a couple days after we got here. These are for you Merian!

Miss Audrey

I love how people in the south use the title of Miss in front of peoples names. I used to love that the woman at the security gate to Paul's work used to call me Miss Emily. There was a woman in my ward in Texas (My third Mom) that called this little one Miss Audrey in the womb and I loved it! Hence the title.
Audrey was born on the 25th...almost a week ago. As I hold her I feel like I'm dreaming. I love being her Mom! I keep thinking that someone is going to come and take her away and say "just kidding". Fortunately for me that hasn't happened yet.
Paul is in love with his little princess. She already has him wrapped around her little finger.
I'll post details about the week later, but for now I just wanted to show you how beautiful she is. Someone please pinch me!





Thanks to my sister Lisa. She only had an hour and she made magic with these photos!

Pregnancy

For those of you who haven't seen me lately. Audrey is growing, and hopefully we will meet her on Tuesday

Texas Wrap Up!

There are a lot of things I have missed over the past few months. It seems like every time I sit down to write the words leave me and I am left alone with the computer and an empty brain.
Today is a little different. There are a few really exciting things that are coming up in the near future and I thought that I might do one last post before all the craziness starts.

Paul finished work today! I am so proud of him and the hard work that he has put in over the last eight months. He said his final presentation went pretty well. You have to know Paul to know what that really means; Translation: "I'm AWESOME and everyone was wowed by my proposals". He has learned so much and I know that knowledge will help him through these next two semesters.

This Picture:
Paul's family came out at the end of June. Really it was a breath of fresh air for me. I think I let out a few tears when I saw his Mom. It had been a while since I had seen one of my Moms. While they were here we had a birthday party for Paul. He wanted Pumpkin Pie. I know weird...considering it was June. My Mom always made me my favorite so we continue on with the tradition. Isn't he good looking?

This next week is going to be filled with preparations to leave. Packing everything, shipping everything, Moving furniture, cleaning house, cleaning our car (I think there is 8 months of beach sand on my floor mats), and getting ready for our hospital trip. I'm pretty sure my Doctor is going to strip my membranes on my Thursday apt. I'm only assuming considering he said he would cause me a little more pain and we would get things moving. Usually when Doctors say a little bit of pain they don't really mean a "little" bit of pain. Then if I don't have the baby by Tuesday I will be induced...but only if things look like they are progressing. There's a third option if things aren't progressing but I try not to think about that one because I don't want Paul to leave me.
After meeting Audrey which is what I'm most excited about... Paul will pack up the car while I recover for a few days and then we will make the 28hr drive back home so that Paul can make it back for school.

It will be the 1st adventure we have as a little family unit. I will be documenting every moment so that someday she will be able to share that she became a Texan and moved to Utah all in one week. It's going to be a pretty good story!

This Picture: At the end of July my ward gave be the most beautiful Baby shower. Most of them have only known me for 8 months and they have been so kind to me. I hope to keep in regular contact with them because they have become my greatest friends.

Side shot will be coming next week.

Thinking Out Loud

During the past few days I have felt like I am living in a dream. I guess it could be because so many things are changing in my life right now. So many things are happening that I have only ever occupied my dreams. I sit here day after day and try to convince myself that I really am going to be a Mom in less than 4 weeks time. I'm pretty sure nothing is registering up in that vast empty space of a brain right now. I feel like I'm going crazy.....I'm going to be a Mom!
I went to visit a lady in the hospital today. Her nurse told me that he has delivered 15 babies, and then proceeded to offered his guess on Audrey's arrival date, which was 7-10 days considering how low I'm carrying. I had to giggle a little as I left the hospital. He doesn't know that having a baby early is not in my genes, nor do I want it to be. Maybe I'm carrying lower because I'm tall, but if this is low I would hate to see what high is.

More news. If you didn't already know we are moving again just days after I'm supposed to have the baby, which brings all sorts of complications by itself. But it would be so much harder if there weren't so many people willing to help out here.
I've grown so close to so many people. I wish that I could bring them all home with me. I don't think I have ever had so many great friends of so many different ages.
However, I'm so excited to be going home. I'm already envisioning arriving at the state line. I can't wait to actually see what Fall is supposed to look like.

Sailing

I've heard that people live on their sail boats. Sailboat living is cheap. Many people retire early to live out the rest of their days sailing. At first it may sound like an adventure but I'm not sure I would love living on top of the water...especially during hurricane season in the south.
I have always been curious about sailing. It's something I associate with retired people who have nothing else to do. I've only had it on my bucket list because I just want to be able to say that I've been sailing...find out for myself what all the hype is about. The guy who took us out on his boat is one of Paul's co-workers. How he makes friends with these random people at work I will never know.
Now that I have been I would say that everyone should take the opportunity. I thought of my Mom as I sat there and watched the sunset with the wind in my hair and a light spray of the ocean on my face. I knew that only my Mom would appreciate something so relaxing.
Siting there was almost as awesome as getting to sail it for myself. I was determined that if Bill asked I was not at any means going to touch the wheel of that boat. I thought for sure I would be the one to capsize his hand crafted sailboat. After he told the story of how it was his fathers project and together as father and son they had built it themselves there's no way I was going to touch anything but my butt to the seat.
After much insisting I took the wheel and he talked me through it. It was pretty much awesome...and I didn't even crash it!
Paul kept talking about how relaxing it was all the way home. Who knows someday in the far distant future we may have the bright idea to join the rest of those retired folks out there....but probably not.

Thanks Bill for showing us more of the beautiful side of Texas!