April in Evansville

I plan to share all the adventures that our family have experienced over the past couple of months here in the Midwest, but first here's a little sample of how the last 30 days went... Enjoy!

Evansville, Indiana

Last December we moved across the United States to a lesser known part of Indiana called... Evansville.

Due to the large distance between us and the majority of our family I thought it appropriate to start up this blog again in order to help our family members know what's going on in our lives (complete with pictures). I hope you enjoy the upcoming photos and stories of our adventures here in the Midwest. We certainly are. 😁

Down South

Throughout May and part of June we were traveling down south to Hurricane, Henderson and California almost every weekend. Looking back it was quite expensive for us to be traveling so much, particularly since we had just moved into a new apartment and were trying to adjust to the increased costs associated with that. But it was worth it to spend so much time with family!

Highlights from the trip

1. Birthday nachos as big as Genelle! (April 26th)

2. Discovering Genelle's first two teeth popping through (Memorial Day Weekend)

3. Seeing and holding Ida Jane for the first time (Father's Day Weekend)

4. Genelle really chowing down on food for the first time (May 31st)

5. Genelle's first time in the pool (April 26th)

6. Seeing family (EVERYTIME)

A Hess Family Reunion

In May all of Mike's siblings, and their families, got together for a little family reunion in Burbank, California --his home town.

Thanks to their family friend, Cynthia Eccles, all of the family from out of town were able to stay in the same condo throughout our stay.

It was so much fun to see everyone and hold/kiss all the new grandkids! We certainly can't wait to see everyone again!

  Highlights from the trip

1. Trying the Apollo breakfast burrito for the first time --loved it!

2. Seeing/kissing/holding Areta for the first time!

3. Seeing/kissing/holding Miles for the first time!

4. Getting a professional massage with all the ladies (also for the first time)

5. Having Jamberry nails applied by Susan (and my hair braided by her too)

6. Experiencing the glorious cooking of SMP Catering (Steve Marshall Productions)

7. Chilling at the pool with Genelle and the rest of the fam!

8. Seeing Marilyn (Genelle's Grandma Hess) in a bathing suit for the first time! (She looked gooood!)

A Mini Vacation with Friends

Towards the end of Genelle's sixth month we decided to go on a little vacation to the Oregon Coast. It was beautiful and so much fun!! The water was too cold to put Genelle in, but she had a ball hanging out with our friends over at My Life of Checked Boxes!

Highlights from the trip

1. Waking up to see/hear/smell the Ocean EVERY MORNING!!

2. Seeing all the green and brown loveliness that is Oregon

3. Getting to see and touch Sea Stars and Anemone during low tide

4. Eating Seafood!! (Even Mike tried some oyster, crab and fish!)

5. Relaxing for a whole week and playing games with some of my bestest friends!!!

6. Tillamook Cheese Factory and the Blue Heron with it's petting zoo

7. Visiting Portland (specifically, VooDoo Donuts, Powell's Book Store, the Washington Park and some Food Carts just down the street from Washington Park)

8. Breakfast on the Smelt Sands Beach in Yachats

9. Newport!

The Fourth and Fifth Months (and a baby blessing)

Big Things in the Fourth and Fifth Months

1. Mama makes a ring sling and Genelle abides sitting in it

2. Genelle starts to show a greater preference for Mama (aka if Mom leaves the room or allows anyone else to hold Genelle there WILL be tears)

3. Recognizing and bringing toys up to her face

4. Mama actually remembered to take photos of Genelle's bathtime (I promise she was bathed before this point)

5. Big laughs for Daddy (not quite yet for Mom)

6. Paying attention to the pages of her book and showing a greater interest in face cavities

7. Grabbing toes!!

Genelle's Baby Blessing 

On February 16th Genelle's Dad, Grandpas Hebdon, Hess and Wright, along with Uncles Matt and Braeden, Mike's old Mission President: President Hunt, and her Great Grandpas Hebdon and Christensen, together gave her a blessing.

The following slide show is the luncheon that followed the blessing.

The Third Month

Big Things in the Third Month:

1. Stinking shots

2. Daddy first learns how dangerous it can be to lift Genelle high over head after she's just eaten.

3. Genelle learns how to communicate via facial expressions

4. The curl (or crazy) is started to show 

5. Genelle learns how to coo!!

6. A trip to Grandpa Hebdon's in Henderson, NV for Christmas Day... and family pictures

7. The days following Christmas are spend at Aunt Charlene's where Genelle meets her California Aunts and Uncles for the first time and of course, a mini photoshoot.

8. The Spitting starts

Genelle's Second Month

[*This post could also be labeled, "Mommy and Daddy got a nice new camera!]

In November Mike and I finally took the plunge and bought a Canon. We didn't really care what the body looked like since we knew we were going to buy a new lens to go with it so we purchased the EOS Rebel T3i. Shortly thereafter we bought the magnificent 50 mm i.8f lens! All the photos (taken with the Cannon) you will see here on out will with those lens.

Big Things in the Second Month:

1. An early Thanksgiving dinner at Jeanne's, my ex-step mom  with Braeden (Jeanne's son), Brynne (Braeden's cute wife), and Aly (Jeanne's daughter).

2. Thanksgiving Day with Mike's parents and brother, Matt.

3. Lessons in how to hold one's head up.

4. A weekend down in Hurricane, where Genelle met her great grandparents the Christensens and all my siblings got to fawn all over her.

5. A special fundraising Santa Claus Photoshoot

The First Month

Big Things in the First Month:

1. At the start of Genelle's second week, her Grandpa Hebdon came by along with Uncle Jacob and her soon-to-be Grandma Jill.

2. Grandma Amy got to spend the second weekend of November with us and work her Mommy-Magic!

3. Grandpa Wright brought Aunts Naomi, Esther and Ora to see Genelle! Everyone got to hold and entertain Genelle!

4. Genelle ventured outside of the house in the baby carrier for the first time, and is beginning to interact with those around her.

5. Tummy time is a pain, but a must.

The First Week

The first week home was... crazy. Mike was able to get work off so that he could spend some time bonding with both Genelle and I. It was so nice having him there with us. I was grateful I didn't have to spend my first days as a new parent alone.

Together, we stayed up late while I fed Genelle, and slept in to recover from the lack of sleep. A routine developed where I fed Genelle, Mike would burp and change her diaper then I would need her again. It was nice splitting up the duties, so I didn't feel overwhelmed with doing everything.

My milk came in the day we got home, and when it did I freaked out. All of a sudden, where my boobs had been sore because Genelle was pulling on them, they were sore do to the lack of pulling on them. I almost started crying while I waited for Genelle to wake up from a nap one day because my boobs were so full of milk they had become hard. I desperately searched around for some way to relieve the pressure, but our breast pump hadn't been delivered yet (because of the affordable care act, our insurance provided a mechanical double breast pump, but only after confirmation that a baby had been born). Luckily Genelle woke up soon after so relief was soon mine.

Feeding Genelle after my milk came in became quite the spectacle. Because Genelle and I were still learning, most meals one if not both of us ended up soaked. It took a while for the two of us to get the swing of things, I'll admit there are still times when I'll accidentally shoot Genelle in the face/ear/hair with milk, and while I would like to say I know what I'm doing, I realize now more than ever that I may never have full control over my body ever again.

If nothing else, this first week really taught me to laugh, especially in those moments when I feel tried to the point of breaking down.

Most particularly I remember being so sleep deprived that I would wake up several times in the middle of the night (on my own) to try and feed Genelle, only to find she wasn't in my arms as I thought. I'd frantically search the folds of my cover frightened by the thought that she could be suffocating from the weight, only to realize that she was safe in her bed, and that I had been trying to feed the comforter this entire time. It scared me to think of my daughter's life being put into jeopardy by me not doing something so easy as putting her back in her bed after eating. But as scary as that was, I couldn't help laughing in relief.

During that first week, we had a lot of visitors. First my Grandpa Hebdon and his wife Nola stopped by, then my brother Rhett, who was living close by at the time, came over. He is quite the baby-whisperer. If you ever get the chance, have him hold yours, I guarantee you the little one will fall fast asleep! Then a couple of days later my Mom was able to come by and see Genelle as well. 

It was so nice having family come by and meet Genelle. Mike and I are so grateful for everyone who made the trip, in the first week, and the weeks to come. We were especially grateful as well, for family and friends who brought over dinner and helped keep Genelle and I company! 

A HUGE shoutout goes to my cousin, Candice Gwilliam and her sweet family who dropped off food, not once but THREE times! My lovely ex-step mom, Jeanne who rescued us with a lasagna and with a bottle of nipple cream, Mike's mom who came by several times to help  watch and hold Genelle so I could fold laundry or caught a few Zzs. I'd also my visiting teachers at the time (who may never read this blog), Heather Hill and Teri Draper, who not only brought a small mountain of food, but of cookies, and redvines and all manner of sweets too!! 

Thank you!!

Birth Story + The Hospital Stay

Monday morning, October 14th I woke up early due to some cramp-like backaches. I got up and into the shower, and a little while later they went away. Thinking I was just uncomfortable from laying in one position all night long I waved the experience away. The rest of the morning my back achiness came and went, but I didn't think much of it. At work the achiness continued, but by alternating my position at the desk (i.e. squatting, sitting on an exercise ball, standing) and then taking the occasional stroll around the office I was able to manage my uncomfortableness and continue working. Around noon it dawned on me that lower back crampiness was often a sign of pre-labor. I also realized that my on-again/off-again achiness was similar to the ebb and flow that I knew labor would eventually take (although in a much quicker pace when the time came).

Unsure of how I should handle this, I searched the internet to see how long this pre-labor, achiness might last... Several days was the answer. So I continued on with my day like normal, although I did text Mike to let him know that I was starting to have regular contractions (even if they were small and far enough apart that we wouldn't really need to worry about it).

Once we both got home from work, we prepared dinner together and then I started prepping for my visiting teaching appointment that I had scheduled for that evening. Exhausted from the physical toll of managing my achy lower back I took a nap, then drove over to the Sister's apartment my visiting companion and I were to see.

When we got there we chatted for a while, I shared the message that I had prepared, and then we asked if we could help this Sister with anything. "I could use some help with my laundry," she replied. So we got up and my vt companion went to get some dirty clothes baskets from this Sister's back room. When they came back I offered to take the load that was in the Sister's hands. She set it down in front of me, and when I bent over to pick it up I felt a rush of warm water go down the insides of my pants. I quickly straightened up, thinking, "Crap, I've just peed my pants in this Sister's house." Since I was wearing dark pants I thought, maybe they won't notice, so I bent down to get the basket again. Woosh! Another gush of water flowed down the inside of my legs. This time it dawned on me that my water may have broken. Still unsure I straightened up (with the basket) and turned towards the front door. Another trickle.

By this time, my visiting teaching companion and the sister we were with noticed something was wrong.

"What's the matter?" the sister asked.

"Well, either I just peed my pants, or my water has broken," I replied.

With that announcement, the laundry basket I was holding was whipped away, a phone brought out and my driving privileges denied. After a quick call to my husband to share the news, and spur him into packing our hospital bag, my vt companion led me to her car and drove me home.

Once at the house I changed out of my wet pants and proceed to call the hospital to verify that my water had broken. During the course of the call I completely soaked the new pants that I had just put on. The nurse, upon hearing my story urged me to come in where they would do an examination to determine wether or not my water had truly broken.

At this point the "cramps" that I had been experiencing throughout the day started to get closer together and greater in strength. After changing into another pair of pants (because apparently I didn't learn my lesson the second time around), we left for the hospital, complete with an extra pair of clothes (as well as a pair of clothes for the baby), toiletries and snacks.

Upon arriving at the hospital Mike and I were directed to the Labor and Delivery rooms where we saw the lead singer of Fictionist (random). I would have stopped to tell him that I really enjoy his music but we were all pretty busy.

Once we got into our room the nurse had me change and sit upon  the hospital bed with a towel below me. She had me answer a couple of health insurance questions then she came over to examine me. Upon inspecting the drenched towel below me she happily announced that my water had indeed broke, so we would be staying the night!

She then attached a variety of monitoring equipment to me and the baby bump and proceeded to tell Mike and I that because my water had broken  I would need to stay in the hospital bed until the baby was born so that there wasn't any risk of the umbilical cord getting caught under the baby. Well, although I wan't to do everything in my power to all a safe delivery for the baby, I did not like the idea of suffering through all those contractions on my back. :( Particularly since the contractions were starting to come faster and stronger. To help alleviate the pressure/pain I asked to get up and used the restroom (since the pressure also made it feel like I needed to use the bathroom really bad). She allowed it and so I quickly got on my feet and waddled over to the bathroom (with a towel between my legs to soak up any amniotic fluid that leaked). Well, squatting over the toilet felt a whole lot better than laying down, so I got up to use the "bathroom every time a contraction came. After 20 minutes though, the nurse wasn't having that anymore so she suggested I get a catheter instead.

With my bathroom excuse gone I was left with only one other option (in my mind), and that was an epidural. Luckily the anesthesiologist was on the floor, so within 20 minutes he was in our room. After he inserted the needle, and handed the "give-me-more-drugs" button I tried to lay back and relax. As my body adjusted to the cool medicine being dripped into it, I began to shake uncontrollably. For those of you who have never had an epidural, these are normal, but they completely freaked Mike out. Gradually they subsided and sweet relief from the pain replaced everything else. Mike and I tried to relax, and let my body do it's thing, but it was incredibly hard for me to fall asleep. Mike stayed up with me for as long as he could, and eventually took about an hour nap.

I shifted constantly, since my butt would start to feel numb if I laid on it for too long. And with each contraction I still felt like I needed to use the restroom, but there was no way the nurse was going to let out of the bed now. So she suggested a catheter, and I relented thinking it would help ease the pressure. After doing so the nurse informed us that if the labor looked like it would last longer than 12 hours, they would need to give me pitocin to move things along, that way there wouldn't be any cause for infection.

Luckily though, little Genelle progressed quite steadily, and within 7 hours of my water breaking I was told to start pushing. At first my contractions didn't feel any different than they had earlier, but since I was dilated enough the nurse had me push anyways. Within 20 minutes I could feel a pressure building in my nether regions. The nurse had me push every other contraction so that Genelle's heartbeat could have time to recover in between pushes, but man, it was so hard waiting, knowing that if I pushed the pressure would be at least a little relieved.

When I could feel the skin start pulling tight, the nurse ushered the doctor in. He started chatting with me, and asked me to breath through the contractions, but not push yet. Eventually he sat down in front of me and gave the go-ahead to push as hard as I could.

A couple of hard pushes later, she was out! The nurse cleared out her nose and mouth and asked Mike if he would like to clip the umbilical cord. He eagerly did so and they tied it off and placed her on my chest.

I felt like I was in shock. Just minutes previously this tiny human being was INSIDE me, and now she was out, and would need to be consciously fed, clothed, and sheltered. I couldn't believe that I had been trusted with such a sweet, little daughter of God.

I was also extremely grateful that I had Mike with me throughout the entire night. He stayed by my side, spoon-feeding me flavored ice, rubbing my feet, and hands, pushing my drug button when I was too embarrassed to do so myself, and helping to alleviate my fears. I honestly don't know how I would have gone through the birth without breaking down if he hadn't been there. He was my rock.

Within an hour of Genelle's birth, I was moved to my more, permanent room. Mike escorted Genelle to the Nursery, where she was bathed, inked and clothed and then met up with me afterwards.

 It was such a relief to be able to walk again, and as soon as I got into the other room I made a bee line for the bathroom. Perhaps on par with the relief I felt from being able to move around again, was the sweet relief of using the bathroom, something that I had held off doing ever since I was told not to leave the bed.

Once Mike and Genelle joined me we all took a much needed nap. The lactation consultant visited us, and while I didn't quite understand her instructions, Genelle seemed happy. Her sucking was painful, but I tried to relax as best as I could. Once a second lactation consultant came in and suggested I use the Medela Nipple Shield, breastfeeding became much easier. It wasn't as painful, and I could tell that Genelle was getting something to eat. I was nervous to go home, and be without the nurses and their onslaught of knowledge, but I knew that I could call any number of women to ask for help and so I felt at peace again.

While we were in the hospital, Mike's parents came to visit, bringing some fresh cut flowers from their garden.

They held Genelle and told her how much they loved her. It was very sweet to watch.

My ex step-mom, Jeanne also came by, and she also held and poured out her love to Genelle.

After that first night caring for Genelle, I realized how much I enjoyed having Genelle right beside me. I could hear her cries and reach for her easily, and so I petitioned Mike to move Genelle's bed into our room. He and Matt, his brother did so, while I was at the hospital. After they moved everything Matt came by and held his new niece as well.

We spoke with Grandparents and parents on the phone while we were there and definitely felt our family and friend's love.

So we had a baby.

On October 15th, 2013 little miss Genelle Madison Hess came into our lives and changed them forever...

So sweet, so little, and oh so perfect, she has smitten us, and her extended family completely.

The last several months following her arrival have rushed by, leaving this blog hopelessly outdated. Since there are some of you who have yet to see what our little Genelle looks like or how far she is developmentally, over the next week we will catch you up on all that has transpired. Every day we will share some of the major events of our lives in the days, weeks and months that followed October 15th. Then, hopefully we will be all caught up, and can here on share our current news.

So you know what to look forward to, here's how we'll break it down:

Monday: The Birth Story
Tuesday: The First Week
Wednesday: The First Month
Thursday: The Second Month (and Visiting Family)
Friday: Returning to Work and The Third Month
Saturday: The Fourth Month and Fifth Months
Sunday: A Mini Vacation with Friends

I look forward to sharing with you!

My Mom

The closer I get to becoming a mom myself the more I've been reflecting on my own mother.

My mom is... amazing. She's the strongest person I know and the type of woman that I want to be like one day.

She gave birth to all 8 of her kids naturally...

She's always the first to volunteer of her time and efforts to a friend in need.

She has always tried to do what's best for us kids, even if that means making HUGE sacrifices on her part.

She's been there for us through thick and thin.

She's spoken her mind and lived her life the way regardless of the backlash it might cause.

She's worked multiple jobs at a time, and put herself through college, as a divorced parent.

She's taught her kids right and wrong, how to work, and how to have fun.

And despite the fact that I may not agree with every choice she's ever made, I love her.

She's my hero.

Some notes on Pregnancy

There are several things that I didn't feel prepared for when I got into this business of being pregnant, some of the particularly strange things were/are...

-swolen/bigger feet (say goodbye to closed shoes)
-ever leaking nipples (funny how I can never feel it happen)
-my belly growing half an inch a week the last trimester (ouch!)
-funky tan lines (one day at the beach left me with a white half-moon on my thighs)

However, despite some of the weirder moments of pregnancy there have been some cheesy, yet incredible things that have happened too...

-feeling the baby move (this first began a couple of weeks ago and it's been so fun knowing that the baby's with me)
-getting little baby shoes (they're so cute!)
-registering (I am very much a list person, so you can bet Mike and I had fun with this!)
-getting off work early (I work for some of the most incredible people ever! Ever since I told them I was pregnant they've been more than accommodating-it's been amazing!)
-putting together a nursery (or in our case, a nook -space gets really limited when you live in a one bedroom apartment)

20 weeks

Three months ago Mike and I found out that our family was going to get a little bit bigger...

(hence the blog inactivity)

We didn't know what to expect, particularly when the morning sickness kicked in, but we were happy to do whatever it took to help bring this little one into the world. 

My belly started getting bigger, and bigger and my clothes started to get too tight. 

Morning sickness came and went, bringing on acid reflux like nobody's business...

We went to the doctor three times. Once to take the ultrasound, twice to hear the baby's heartbeat.

Now, we are preparing for the moment we find out whether we are having a little boy or girl (this Friday!!).

We are full of nerves, and excitement. We have planned a visit to my family the same day we find out so we can share the news immediately with them, followed by a brief trip to Cali, to tell some of Mike's family.

So, if you don't hear again from us for several weeks, know it's probably a girl.

Just kidding, it'll be because we're busy putting together our registry, rearranging our furniture, making birth class plans, etc. 

Wish us luck!

A Christmas Trip

There's something to be said about going down south for the winter... It's warm, there's family and... it's warm.

This Christmas Mike and I went to Las Vegas, Los Angelos and Mesa. It was great to see our family in all three places (even if we didn't end up staying very long with any of them).  While we were there we ended up...

Las Vegas
-Seeing the Hobbit
-Buying my Dad a trashcan
-Having Dinner with my Mom, the girls, my Dad and the Boys

Los Angeles
-Seeing 2/3 of Mike's sisters
-Holding Mike's sole nephew, Landon
-Trying Stained Glass Candy for the first time

Mesa
-Seeing almost all my Aunts and Uncles (on my Mom's Side)
-Singing in the Trees
-Seeing Les Miserables (With my Lovely Aunt Micki and her kids)
-Meeting up with my sister and driving her up to Vegas

And with all that we managed to get TONS of photos in Mesa, 1 photo in Los Angeles and no photos in Vegas.

It was a TON of fun seeing everyone and we hope to do so again soon! Love ya'll!

Christmas Photoshoot

Sometimes you have to have a photoshoot, just because...

Baby Showers and a Christmas Playlist

I am a big fan of parties, small, big, it doesn't matter.

This last Saturday I had the opportunity to host a friend's Baby Shower. I decided to to give it a winter picnic theme...

The invites had a splash of plaid

 (as did the party favors) and for the most part I just threw pinecones and candles around the room.

The Pinecone Banner

Chocolate Cake!

The Sign-In table with the Mom and Dad to-be

The Baked Potato Bar

The Guests pt.1

The Guests pt.2

The Playlist I had going on during the Shower (and have had since in my head):