busy busy busy!

 This past week has been very eventful to say the least. So much has been going on that now that it is over our house feels empty, and days have returned to our normal routines.

Alex gave a beautiful blessing at church on Sunday that made us all cry and Jade couldn't have looked more precious. My Mom did a fabulous job on her dress and Jade behaved perfectly. Jade received her blessing this past Sunday but Alex and I received the best blessing we could have imagined on March 5th, the day Jade entered our lives. Alex and I have become that annoying couple that is obsessed with every movement and noise our daughter makes. We just can't get enough. 

This week we got out mine and Alex's baby pictures to compare them with Jade. I have a hard time seeing much of me in her quite yet. She is all daddy for now!

This is me as a baby and child...

 This is Alex....

And now Jade...

See...alllll Alex! 

My mother in law came to help us out for a week. She camped out in our living room on an air mattress with no complaints. She even took Jade for a few nights so we could catch up on some sleep. It was glorious. Tina (my mother in law) and I just spent our days watching movies, eating and playing with Jade. It was so relaxing and fun. I am so glad she came and I was so sad to see her leave.

I was able to do several things this week that wouldn't have been possible without our super babysitter, Tina. She pushed me out the door to the Relief Society Birthday party and Alex's futsal championship. Both were great and Alex even won first place and a t shirt. I was in such a rush to not make Alex late for his game that when we got there I looked down only to discover that i put on two different shoes. Alex seemed to think it was pretty funny and luckily no one noticed. I have a feeling this is just the start to many forgetful Mommy moments.

The rest of Alex's family came this past weekend for Jade's baby blessing at church. It was a full house or should I say one bedroom apartment haha. It was loads of fun and Jade got spoiled with cuddles and kisses.

We all went out for lunch at Wingers and the waiter gave us free dessert for celebrating the birth of Jade. Stretching the rules a bit but no one complained.

I have finally gotten out my box of pre-pregnancy clothes. I don't even recognize my body anymore. Alex and I have been working on fattening me up. Hopefully I will fill my pants out again...because right now I look like a 10 year old child. Puking and diabetes for 9 months really put it's toll on me. So for now I am enjoying my milkshakes, doughnuts and fried foods.

Alex's sister Jenny, took tons of pictures of Jade for us before she left. I was so excited about this because after seeing the turn out of our engagement pictures she took, I knew they would be keepers. I can't wait to see the end results!

Speaking of Jenny....she is almost ready to vacate her baby girl from her stomach. She has one more month to go! I can't wait for pictures, skype dates and eventually holding the little precious in the Summer! Our two girls are going to have so much fun growing up together. Cousins are the best!

Jade has been sleeping pretty dang good for a newborn. At only three weeks, I get up once a night! Pretty good eh? I have even had a couple nights where she slept from midnight until 7! This girl likes her sleep! Don't get me wrong...she has her bad nights where all she wants is to be held and cuddled but for the most part she treats me well at night.

On the day we blessed Jade, another blessing came into our lives...our little niece Oaklyn Anne McGarry! She is pretty much the cutest, don't you think??

We are so happy for Dave and Natalie and can't wait to get our girls together. Cousins all round! Natalie has the most adorable family and her boys will be such great big brothers. I can see they love her already. I loved having a big brother and I think Oaklyn will too! 

I had my 21st birthday this week and it was full of nothing which is what I asked for. I watched tv shows and played with Jade all day and then went out to eat with Alex. We came home to do, you guessed it...nothing. It was great! 

I can't remember if I have wrote about Alex's internship this summer or not? Alex accepted an internship in Draper Utah at Progressive finance. We move there on April 20th, right after a week long visit to Canada! We will be living in Utah until September. So to all my Utah friends....let's party! Yes that means you too Jared Macdonald!

The semester is coming to a close and I am thrilled! So much fun is ahead and everyday is new and exciting with Jade around. Mommy life is so fun!

I love food, NOT being pregnant and being a Mom!

Since I was diabetic during my pregnancy and practically incapable of keeping food down, food now has never tasted better. I eat everything in sight and it feels great!

Having Jade home is SO fun! She brightens my day, everyday. Her sweet spirit is such a blessing.

Speaking of blessings...my parents were soo WONDERFUL to us this week. They came for the whole week and spoiled us! We were fed well, Jade was given unlimited amounts of attention and memories were made. When my siblings all moved out and I was the only one home for a couple years, my parents became my best friends. They are so fun and thoughtful. I was so sad to see them leave today.

My mom and I finished a lot of fun projects this week including: Nursing covers, a quilt, headbands galore, blessing booties and freezer meals.

We went to a comedy show on campus! It was fun until Jade got hot and needed out of her car seat. Call me a paranoid Mom but I didn't want her out and exposed to that many people. I just hope she doesn't get sick in the next couple days. 

I won my first ever game of monopoly! I have been waiting all my life! Dream come true.

Jordan and Heather were supposed to come visit and meet Jade this weekend but couldn't due to Jordan getting strep throat. Not cool! We were so sad and missed them tons! 

As for updates on Jade...

She sleeps AND feeds really well. She isn't much of a crier but more of a squawker. She loves her baths and kicks and smiles the whole time. She now weighs 6 lbs! The doctor said she was healthy and doing well. We love this little gal!

This week we are just busy with schoolwork and changing diapers. My birthday is coming up next week and I will finally be legal in the States! 

Alex's Mom comes tomorrow and the rest of his family comes this coming weekend for her baby blessing. We are soo excited to have them here and to share our beautiful little girl with them. Our families are truly fantastic!

As I write this, my husband is doing the dishes and our baby is snoozing away....why am I so lucky?

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Jade Marie Stevens in a baby carriage!

The morning of our induction.

 

An angel sent from heaven.

Family photo!

Smiles.

She loves Daddy

Yawns.

The week before labour was GREAT! The anticipation of Jade's arrival was climaxing. The day before induction they checked and informed us that I was 3 cm dilated, 90% effaced, at 0 station and ready to go for the next morning! The night before our induction date we went out to eat together, enjoyed one another's company, took a stroll around the block and then attempted to go to bed EARLY. Alex slept like a baby, while I on the other hand didn't sleep a wink. I couldn't even get a ten minute nap in...I was so nervous. They told us to call the hospital at 5:30 AM to ask when that day would be best to come in. I called anxiously at 5:30, only to find out that they were really busy and would call me back later that day. So we waited and waited until 11 AM to hear back from them. We quickly grabbed our things and headed to the hospital! It took forever to check in at the hospital and finally we were in our hospital room at noon. My doctor came in around 1 PM and broke my water. Contractions started almost immediately. Not fun stuff. My doctor then told me to just let him know when I wanted my epidural. My only regret from this day was not asking for my epidural sooner. My curiosity got the best of me. after an hour and a half of contractions, I asked for the big needle. The anesthesiologist came 15 minutes later. He made a pen mark for where he was going to stick the numbing needle. I honestly thought that hurt more than the needle. He must have been really good at his job because it was practically painless. My epidural started kicking in 15 minutes later. My body was numb and I didn't even feel pregnant. This allowed me the BEST NAP I have had in 9 months. After my hour nap my doctor came in and checked me, only to announce that he could see the head, I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push. The feeling was surreal. Alex and I said a little prayer....only in Rexburg would doctors and nurses respect that. haha. And after 20 minutes of pushing.....Jade Marie Stevens blessed our lives. We didn't even know there was a vacancy in our lives until she arrived. She came out at 6:18 PM weighing 5 lbs. 13 oz. She was 18 inches long and SO ADORABLE. We could not be more pleased with our labour experience...5 hours of labour? I will take it! 

Since her birth we have just been ooing and awing over every little thing she does. We just cant get enough of her! I can't believe I am a Mommy and have the most beautiful daughter ever! Alex is probably the best Dad. He is so attentive and a complete natural. Our little family is really starting and my happiness grows more and more each day!

Some people wanted to know how we came about naming our baby girl Jade. Jade was originally one of our middle name choices. When discussing at the hospital about using the middle name Jade, Alex thought that name needed an upgrade from middle name to first name. Once he decided this, the name just stuck and we were sure...our little girl is a complete Jade. Her middle name comes from my Grandma, Marie Hill and Jade's Aunt Natasha Marie! :) We love her name and continue to come up with all sorts of nicknames like J, DeeDee and Jadey. 

Now since being back at home, it's back to the real world of school, work, night time feedings and watching our Jade grow!

She is so small that nothing I have completely fits her. She is forced to wear onesies that drown her. 

She doesn't quite have a normal cry...we like to call it her squeal. We love our little pig!

We were so happy to hear that Jared was coming to visit this weekend! He came bearing gifts! TOO many! He is so sweet! Jade loves her Uncle Jared. 

Jared got a little obssessed with taking pictures of her....

Jade got snuggles and nap time in with Uncle Jared.

We were soooo spoiled! Baby toms, flowers, a pyrex dish AND a visit from Jared!!!

People have been SO kind and generous to us this week! We have had meals and treats brought over every night since she has been born! People have come to visit, spoiling her with gifts and snuggles!

We have family coming to meet her for the next couple weeks and we are so excited to share her with them!

We just love our Jade Marie! <3

Last pregnancy post for at least a couple years! 4 more days!

Life updates:

Alex and I went to Idaho Falls this week for an internship interview for Alex and then to do some errands. I FINALLY got my name legally changed to Stevens on my social security card! So nice to finally get that off my to do list. PLUS it feels so great to be a Stevens officially ha. Alex's interview went well but we are more hoping for a Utah internship! 

Alex left to Utah yesterday for more internship interviews. I am so sad he had to leave just days before our induction date but it's got to be done. We are excited to see the opportunities and adventures ahead next semester. I am ultra paranoid of him travelling without me, I just couldn't help but get a travelling check up on our car before he left. I had to make sure our car was good and ready to go! I am so sad without him but I have been able to get a lot done in the mean time. I have deep cleaned the entire apartment, organized our storage room to perfection, got ahead in my school work and started redoing my cookbook and adding recipes. Let's just hope that I stay pregnant while he is gone. I can't wait for him to get back tonight!!!

Pregnancy updates:

Here are my last pregnancy pictures! This picture was taken today at only 4 days from our induction date on March 5th! I can't wait to have my body back!

This week at my doctor's appointment they did another non-stress test and everything looked great on baby girl's part. They are starting some procedures on Monday night to ensure I am ready for induction on Tuesday morning! Only 4 days until the birthday of baby girl!

This week I sewed some outfits for fun! One is for a gift and the other is for keeps :)

Alex and I went shopping and got a cute coming home outfit for the baby. 

I went and visited a friend and her newborn. I can't even believe how in love i was with him. I can't wait for my own! 

Alex and I continue to go on nightly walks and all the while I have constant contractions. I hope my body is getting closer and closer to LABOUR!

My Mom finished sewing our baby's blessing gown this week. She took apart her wedding dress that she sewed herself 30 years ago to make the blessing gown. It is BEAUTIFUL! She is so talented and thoughtful. This gift means the world to me! 

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers this coming week! Next post will consist of baby pictures GALORE!