HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Our Little Girl

Aleah Lynn Hansen

(Six days old here) Thank you SO much Kamilee Seamons Photography!

This is Aleah's "birth story", for all who are curious...I think it's kind of fun.

Prediction
Earlier in October I was talking to my Mother-In-Law about the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk that was going to be on October 13th.  Cade and I hadn't decided if we were going to go with the family or not.  It was about six days before my due date and I just wasn't sure how I would be feeling on that day and if I would really be up for it.  But I was considering it and thought maybe walking would do a little good.  When the Buddy Walk came up, I sarcastically told my Mother-In-Law, "That's the day I plan on going into labor". 

Week of the Buddy Walk
Tuesday- Dilated to a three.  My Doctor told me it was possible that I could have my baby that week.  Kind of got excited about it.  Everyday that passed I was a little bit bummed and mad that my doctor gave me false hope.  Friday night, we decided we were going to go to the Buddy Walk.  I couldn't miss it since Autumn (Cade's sister) was going to be speaking!  And I didn't feel as heavy as I'm sure I looked.
 The Walk
Saturday, just before the walk I finished packing my bags.  I laughed and told Cade, again sarcastically, "I'm seriously expecting to have this baby today!"  

I posted this status update on facebook, "One of my favorite events of the year! Down Syndrome Buddy Walk with the Hansen Fam! And maaaybe, I'll walk myself into labor today! Or just really regret the sideaches and sore feet I'm about to have."

We went to the walk.  It was good!  I felt fine.  I was actually kind of disappointed at how great I felt.  Had a thought to get a picture of me and Cade, a 39 weeks picture...didn't though, would have been neat to have now though.  And then we went home.

Autumn Speaking

Water
We were both tired and fell asleep when we got back to our apartment.  When I woke up and got out of bed..I felt a small trickle.  Wondered if it was what I thought it might be..  Went to the bathroom.  Went to go take some laundry to the washer and planned to talk to Cade about it after.  On the way to the washer, another trickle...so I stopped right there and told Cade what was going on.  Did my water break?  Thought better to be safe than sorry and we headed to the hospital.
Traffic

We live by the mall.  It was Saturday and just about five pm.  Traffic was AWESOME.  Who gets stuck in traffic while wondering if they are in labor?  I wasn't sure I was really having this baby though so we just laughed about it.  I thought in my head, with the next false alarm, we should take a different route.  

Hospital

When we got to the hospital they put me on a monitor and then checked me to see if my water had broke.  The nurse that checked me basically said, yes there is fluid but that can be normal near the end of pregnancy. She said, "I'm about 80% sure your water did not break", but still left to finish "examining the situation".  Another nurse came back in and said, "Remember how that nurse told you that she was 20% sure your water broke?  Well, you should go buy a lottery ticket.  Your water did break.  You are staying here."

Ugly Picture Alert :)

Go Time

From when my water broke, the next few hours, as contractions were barely present, I don't know what our deal was, Cade and I were in a giggly mood.  Who knew you could find so much funny just before popping a baby out.  

THEN, I started hurting.  And that was not fun.  

Timeline: Water broke at 4, started hurting right about 7, progressed to a five and got the epidural at around 10-11ish.  Started pushing...sometime.  Pushed for two hours and six minutes, (some say that's alright, others can't believe how long that was).  Had sweet Aleah at 4:56 A.M on Sunday October 14th.  

Cade holding Aleah for the first time

She's perfect!  We love her sooo much!

Named after her Grandma Hansen (Vickie Lynn) and also shares this middle name with her Aunt Autumn and two cousins.

One of the first features I noticed (and loved) about Aleah was her red hair.

At first I was the only one who really noticed...but as time has gone on her hair has lightened up and there is no doubt about it, she has some red.  Love it!  

I've been saying for a long time that we would have a firey red head.  Red hair from Dad and personality from Mom--we'll see about personality as time goes on.  So far, she's too sweet to be like Mom.  :)  

Five Days Old

Her sleepy smiles make late sleepy nights for me a lot more enjoyable.  Wondering who her visitors might be.

We are blessed!

First (somewhat decent) picture with me in it-She's not loving it though!

From a couple days old to a couple weeks old...she's getting big already!

38 Weeks And Some..

Last October--Adam's Canyon in Utah.  

SOOO miss this hike.  

We had no idea when we started what we were in for.

I loved it, so fun. 

This October--A lot has changed.  Nice slooow walk up Camels Back.

I kind of miss real hiking.  This is as close as it gets for now and that's ok. 

38 weeks and 2 days pregnant here.   

 So, I wasn't trying to walk this baby out.  I promise.  Just felt like getting out of the house with Cade and maybe seeing some fall colors (not much success-too early I guess).  It was nice though.

My face is so fat. :)  I have one of those can't-tell-I-have-teeth-anymore swollen smiles.

Today I am 38 weeks and 5 days along.  Yesterday my Doctor said I could go this week.  Dang it.  I didn't want any kind of comment like this.  I just want to plan on the 19th and be happy with whenever she decides to come.  But I let his comment get inside my head and now I'm hoping for this week. :)  Just excited though--she's coming soon enough, whether that's this week or next. 

Baby Bumpss

Oh look what I found!  Pregnant and we didn't even know it.

Last night- 37 Week Together Shot

Last night Cade and I went out to dinner with the Petersons.  It was a good time.  Love getting together with them.  Briceida and I are both in our 37th week of pregnancy this week.  So fun having one of your closest friends pregnant with you.  No, this was not planned.  :)Silly heads.  Very ironic and awesome..but totally not planned.  At all.  In any way.  I mean, if Cade and I didn't have this planned, Briceida and I definitely didn't. ;) 
Almost right after finding out that I was pregnant I told Briceida, we talked and then she told me, "Well, I'm kind of late.."
Turns out, she was too!
Our due dates are just three days apart.
CRAZY.

The other day at Briceida's shower, her sister-in-law asked if we had gotten a picture together yet.  We had one that my sister took at my shower, but besides that....I didn't think so.  And then...I remembered.  We so did.  We just both didn't know that we were pregnant at the time.  (See top picture.)
That picture was taken just before Cade and I had moved back from Utah.  We were in Boise visiting for the weekend and met up with James and Briceida for dinner at Carinos.  We took a picture...little did we know, we were both just barely expecting.  I suspected...but didn't know, and didn't bring up, "I totally think I'm pregnant" at dinner that night.  I know I wanted to...but couldn't figure out how that conversation would play out, since, I really had no evidence besides just a good feeling about it.

Kind of fun though, to have those two pictures now.    

And this is just a 37 week mirror shot

So close!

Took my ring off about 3 months ago.  Good thing.

37 weeks tomorrow!  Three weeks left, what?  Insane.  This pregnancy has really gone by so fast (to me).  BUT I think I'm ready....  Physically.  Mentally...well, getting closer.. :)  Nine months ago, I was BABY HUNGRY.  Fast forward a few months--Scared.  But, I realize this is just me.  Decisions or HUGE changes, just scare me.  But, with fears, come a million more reasons to be excited.  And we are so excited.
    
At my 35 week appointment I was dilated to a one.  Doctor told me I was ahead of the game...but, I've heard enough, "Doctor says I'm going to have this baby this weekend" (and then no baby for another week) stories, that I didn't get caught up in his comment.  If anything it made me more nervous.  36 week appointment--still at a one.  All looks good. 

I have been a crazy mix of emotions.  Better this week.  Last week I told Cade, "Today, I just want to sleep and cry!"  Such a pregnant moment.

We have almost everything (besides a few toys) washed and put away in the right spot.  Baby's room is ready!  Yay!

Room is ready!

Now, Cade and I are just enjoying the idea of being parents.  Cade has found quite a bit of scriptures that talk about parenthood and teaching your children.  And I've found a couple quotes that I like about parenthood from Teachings of Thomas S. Monson. 

"In a Latter-day Saint home, children are not simply tolerated, but welcomed; not commanded, but encouraged; not driven, but guided; not neglected, but loved."

&

 

"I would say to each mother, each father—be a good listener. Communication is so vital today in our fast-paced world. Take time to listen. And to you children, talk to your mother and to your father. It may be difficult to realize, but your parents have lived through many of the same challenges which you face today. Often they see the big picture more clearly than you can. They pray for you each day and are entitled to the inspiration of our Heavenly Father in providing you counsel and advice.

Mothers, share household duties. It is often easier to do everything yourself than to persuade your children to help, but it is so essential for them to learn the importance of doing their share.

Fathers, I would counsel you to demonstrate love and kindness to your wife. Be patient with your children. Don’t indulge them to excess, for they must learn to make their own way in the world.

I would encourage you to be available to your children. I have heard it said that no man, as death approaches, has ever declared that he wished he had spent more time at the office."

I'll just find her in this chair sometimes

Welcome to the World, Ryder!

Grandma Koyle with two of her Grandsons, Landon and Ryder

Riley breaking his brother in with some spit :)

My sister, Kami and her husband Roger, had their third baby boy last week, Ryder Stanford Seamons.  He's SO cute.  I loved holding him this past weekend.  It was even better that my parents were able to come into town and hang out for a couple days.  It was a good weekend.  Ryder is going to have so much fun with his two crazy big brothers!
As we were leaving Kami and Rogers house my Dad wanted to throw the football around a little bit.  Riley threw the football into the flower bed and Landon goes, "Ugh!  Riley!  Now what are we going to do?"  My Dad steps into the flowers and says, "We're just going to step in and get the football".  Landon throws out his arms and goes, "YOU JUST STEPPED ON MY FLOWERS!"  Dad- "You are more worried about the flowers than the football?  We've got problems kid".  It was cute.  Fun times.

A Fun Morning

This picture is deceiving...Owen didn't care too much about baking

When I post this, the pictures are all going to be out of the order I put them in.  I think I hate blogs sometimes.  I don't care to take more time figuring out why they aren't cooperating.  Just go with it :)  

I got to play with Cade's (and my) niece and nephew the other morning and this is what we did!

-A little bit of cartoon watching

-Baking with my Easy Bake Oven! (Thanks to Cade and Christmas 2010 :))  Owen actually really didn't want anything to do with it, he wouldn't even eat a cookie...I don't think he trusts us.  

-Played some foosball

-And watched "Tangled"

To be honest, they actually got kind of bored, I'm not that cool of an Aunt...but I had fun!   

I learned that when the recipe calls for only 3/4 teaspooon of water, they know what they are talking about.  I kind of really overdid it on the water and we had to pull out some flour to fix my gooey mistake.

Cleaning up a big flour mess

Putting the cookies into the oven

Can't tell too well, but dog wanted to sit under us while we baked...she has flour all over her head.  Probably not the best place to make cookies, in the living room.  Just some vacuuming needed and it's all good.

Waiting...

This is what we did while waiting

Eliza eating the finished product.