Madden James Hall

Welcome baby Madden James Hall. Madden was born on Tuesday April 14 at 10:06 am. He weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 19 inches long. He has got really cute dimples on both cheeks.

Going into labor this time I really wanted things to go different than last time with Emerson. I got my wish but some ways were not what I was hoping for. I got to the hospital to be induced at 4:00 am. When I got there I was checked and was already dilated to a 4. They started me on pit at 5:30. By 6:30 I was starting to feel some good contractions and asked for the epidural before it got worse. Unluckily for me the anesthesiologist was tied up with other people and didn't make it in to do my epidural until 9:15 am. By this time I was in SO much pain I thought I was going to die! As soon as they finished my epidural at 9:45 I was still in crazy amounts of pain and knew something wasn't right. Mike grabbed the nurse right after they walked out of the room. She came back in and she checked me and of course I was fully dilated and ready to push. Needless to say my epidural didn't have time to kick in so I had to just deal with it. I still had to get an episiotomy but everything else went really well and I made it through.

Even though labor was so painful and hard my recovery has been so much better this time around. I got to go home the next day and I am up and moving around pretty well. Emerson is adjusting a lot better than I thought he would. He likes to look at him and take him things but he doesn't want to touch him or hold him at all. He has been really sweet and tries to take him his binky or a ball. He doesn't love it when I am holding him but is still doing better than I thought he would be. I will try and post more pictures as soon as I figure out how to do it better.

easter bunny visit

Taking Emerson to see the Easter bunny at the Midwestern easter egg hunt was equally entertaining as it was with Santa at the Christmas party this year.  After we tortured him by making him sit over by the Easter bunny he would cling onto us and kept looking back to make sure we were not going to take him over again.  I must be a really mean mom if I put him through this knowing what his reaction will be, but I have to admit, it is so funny that I can't resist!

The color code

I have been getting ready for the baby to come and started my deep cleaning of the house.  I was going through old books and saw the color code from a psych class I took.  I decided to take the test again and see if I was any different than I used to be....I am.  It is amazing how much being a mom and wife has changed me.  I was telling Mike about it and he decided to take it too.  Before he took it he said that he didn't believe any of it.  After we started reading a little about our colors he decided that most of it was true.  We were laughing so hard at some of the things it said about each of our colors and how they interact together.  It was funny that it helped us both realize things that we could do to help each other out that we never did before.  Mike is so yellow and I am mostly blue.  As the book said it is true that opposites attract and I guess we are proof of that.

We're in for it!

Tonight we realized just how hard it will be for Emerson to have a new baby around. Tonight we went to Dan & Linsey's house to make dinner for them because Lins just had a baby on Thursday. I picked up their new baby so Linsey could finish eating. As soon as Emerson saw me holding a baby he started crying so hard and wouldn't stop. He was so upset and looked at me like I had completely betrayed him. He started walking towards the door so I followed him over to try and show him the baby and reason with him a little....not going to happen. He was so upset, Mike tried to pick him up and hold him but he was still not happy. As soon as I gave the baby back he was okay. He was playing with his friend Rayce but everytime I walked in the same room as the baby he would freak out again. I think he was a litte worried that I would pick her up again. I know he will adjust to having a baby in our family but we are in for a wild ride until he does. Good luck to us!

Loving January in Arizona!

The more I am here in Arizona, the more I love it!  I never thought I would be so happy being away from everything I love.  It helps that while Utah is FREEZING cold and snowy, I am taking Emerson to play at the park in 70-80 degree weather.  Most of the time the last few weeks we haven't even needed jackets at all.  There were a couple of days earlier this week we had the air conditioner on, yes in January!!!  Between the weather, the good relationship we have and all the wonderful friends we have met down here, we love it!  It helps to have all of these things being away from our friends and family back home.

 

 

Anniversary & Mesa Temple Lights

Today is our 4 year anniversary.  I look back and realize how many fun things Mike and I have been able to do together in this amount of time.  I am so blessed to have found somebody so perfect for me.  Mike is always so sweet and understanding of me.  I love having every adventure in life together.  Being married to Mike is so easy and I couldn't ask or have hoped for anyone better.  Thanks for making me so happy Mikey!  I love you! 

Last night we drove to the Mesa temple to see the lights.  It was beautiful!  We had a fun time as a family even though we were stuck in traffic on the way down for too long.  It had been raining but it was so pretty and was well worth going.  It was the first time I felt like it is actually Christmas here.  We are excited to come to Utah and see some snow next week!

Air Force here we come!

So it is official.  We are now going to be property of the US Air Force for the next 7 years of our lives.  I have to say that I am so grateful for this.  Mike just found out that we got the 3 year Air Force scholarship.  Dental school is so much more expensive than I ever thought it would be.  Getting this Air Force scholarship means that all of our school bills are paid for and they will be giving us money to live off of each month.  There are always pros and cons to things like this but when they will eliminate $300,000 in student loans it is an easy decision.  We have talked to many people who have gone the military route and everyone seems to say that the Air Force is the way to go.  We feel so blessed and feel like a huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders.  Yah!!!