6 weeks

It's been a whirlwind of a strange time for us in the last little bit. Much of our time, of course has been dedicated to Olive in learning about her and how to best make her happy and feel loved. I'll be honest and say that the first month was HARD. I don't mean that in a bad way. It just was. Adjusting to a new baby and then trying to recover in every way possible didn't make it easier either. Thank goodness for mothers and mothers-in-law and champion husbands to help me though it. I knew going into this adventure that it would not be all happy all the time and I definitely knew what I would not know what to do 90% of the time, but the Lord has a perfect way of making us better. He knew I was 'special' when it came to baby/childcare. It's just not a natural thing for me--so I thought. He blessed Cody and I with a mellow, happy baby. Really and truly, but it also did not come without some important lessons too.

Anyway, a lot of that now is just a memory. At 6 weeks, we're still learning but Cody and I (and Olive!) have a far better grasp on how things work for us. I think we'll emerge triumphant after all.

Olive is a great sleeper -- at night. She wakes up once or twice a night to eat and even then she's sleep-eating and then goes back to bed ok.

She is a smiley baby. Ever since 3 weeks she's been smiling up a storm and in turn making us smile too. There is nothing more rewarding than that. :)

She doesn't want to miss a thing -- already. So, she doesn't like to take long naps. An hour at a time, at best. I guess that is ok, as long as her night time sleeping is uninterrupted. I don't get a lot done ever, but that's alright.

All in all, we can't believe she is ours and to have gotten so lucky.

About a month ago, our awesome friend took some pictures for us. Here are some favorites:






Just before Olive came, I was commissioned to make a book. Not just any old book, but a very special book. I figured I had a month or so to do it, but O had other plans for me by coming two weeks early. Anyway, the SLC Parade of Homes contacted me and told me one of the builders was making a replica of the house from the Pixar movie Up.



They wanted me to make a replica of this:



So I did, all during this time of adjustment. I still need to bind it, but that's about all I have left to go.






It feels good to take on a project like this.

Life is good, all in all. We will be blessing Olive in Blanding over the 4th of July holiday. I can't wait!

Olive Lynne Campbell

Our content bundle of joy came 10 days early on Sunday, May 1st at 11:03 pm. It started out I think on the previous Friday and Saturday. I was feeling strange and was wondering if labor was really coming on, or if it was false. Sunday morning came and it was undeniable. I was having regular contractions throughout the day and my dear Mom came up to help us out that day and the two weeks following. We walked and walked to keep the labor going and even ventured to wal*mart for the hundreds of laps that would semi-progress the labor. Finally, around 4:30 pm the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. We went to the hospital to learn that I was fully effaced but 5 cm dilated. So, Cody and I walked some more and some more, I guess like pioneer children... But we weren't singing, that's for sure. After a couple more hours of this, I was checked again and I was a 6. Very disappointing. (I was planning and did carry out an unmedicated birth, so that might explain the long way of doing things.) around 9 pm or so my doc (Laurie Hansen!) came in to check on me. The labor was going longer than it should. As she checked me my water broke an that kicked everything into high gear. I automatically went into transition labor and it got hard. I dilated quickly after that but Olive's head wasn't quite turned in the right direction, so we had to try some different positions to get her the right way. As soon as she turned, it was one pushing contraction after another. I was so tired and done with it all. She started to crown and I tore inside in two places. My body didn't have the proper time to prepare, so a lot of damage was done. A few hard pushes later she was out but not without another major tear. She was placed on me and was a welcome distraction while Laurie and a surgeon proceeded to quickly sew me back together. After everything was said and done, we were able to rest around 3 am. It was a long, long day with a beautiful result.

We spent a good part of the first week still at the hospital for me to heal and because Olive's bilirubin levels were closely being watched. She ended up having to have a lot of UV light treatment to get her levels down and everything broken up. It was a long, hard week on many levels.

Despite it all, Olive is such a sweet, calm baby. This is especially good with me trying to heal these last two weeks and just getting used to the new life. It's hard work, but worth it and rewarding in it's own ways. There are no raises, no keeping track of hours worked, and no boss to answer to. It's just me and O most of the time, trying to learn how/what to do with eachother. I know I'll get better with it over time. She is now 2 weeks old and it feels like more than that, in a good way. Cody and I can't imagine life without her now.

Now, for what you really came for:

One day old


Under the lights


Still brand new


At home with Daddy


Gas... and the best-timed picture ever


One week old


Cody's graduation, first real family picture.



Not to have Olive overshadow everything, but we are really proud of Cody for graduating from SUU. It's been a long time coming, and the big day came. He's now a somewhat free bird and can spend more of his time working and playing with his little girl :)

We will see what the coming hours, days and weeks bring for us.

36ish

We're closer to 37, but who's counting? :)

Things are going well. We're getting more and more excited for this truly life-changing event and can't wait to meet this little person. I've been getting a few Braxton-Hicks here and there, but I feel pretty good otherwise. Maybe as the days go by, I can have a better idea of how this is all going to go down.

The last month and a half was littered with baby showers. They were all really unique and so much fun. This little one is already so loved and everyone can't wait either. It was good to see so much family and friends and get to sit back and enjoy this last little bit.

I think I've been steadily working on the nesting end of things, but haven't gotten full-swing into the 'extreme cleaning' part of it yet. Yesterday might have been the start though. I continued my mile-long to-do list and even though my body was pleading me to stop and relax, I was still so motivated and energized to get things done. Very strange for me lately.... haha (Don't worry, I chilled out instead of working).

This babe is definitely running out of room. We're having to compromise with one another more and more lately. She's still pretty active and loves to stick her bum out to stretch. She's not a rib kicker either, just likes one side or the other and stretches a leg and foot out to the other side. I've been getting more and more elbows sticking out too. It's fun. She likes to be curled up on one side of me and stay there and play. Very fun to pick up on. I'm not too worried about any weird positions though. My midwife/doc says she's head-down and facing the right direction. I'm measuring right on and that's a good sign too.

I think at this point, I'd rather wait until after Cody's graduation. (The 7th, and I'm due the 11th) I'd rather be there and waddle around than not be able to with a new baby. Hope it works out.. somehow. :)



Anyway, life is going well for us. Time is flying for us with school going and baby stuff. Cody is finishing up his senior capstone project and getting ready for the big transition from grad to dad. My job is going well and we are keeping pretty busy. It's a good time to be busy to help pass the time.

That's about all we're up to these days. Hopefully more updates to come.

Wonder

If you know of the Decemberists, or even don't know of them, there is one song I think that could sum up our life right now. It's called "Wonder", and it's worth checking out.

This week marks the middle of my 27th week, and the begging of the third trimester. It's gone by so quickly, I can't believe I only have so much to go. It's exciting. It's scary. But, it will be so worth it. I've been feeling pretty good thus far, however, the fatigue and 'cramped quarters' have started to creep in. Don't worry, it's still a good time though. Here is a semi-recent pic:

26.5 weeks

It's a little bump, but now getting bigger every day it seems. I get asked all the time if I'm half-way. Nope, just under 90 days. :) This babe is an active one too. It's thrilling. Here are a couple of cute stories about Cody and the baby:

(In the past) "If we ever tried to interact with her, she'd go away or get still. Now she recognizes Cody's voice and really gets excited around him. I'm getting better at it, but he can really tell where she is and what body part is what and can locate her pretty well. They do this thing where he'll find her, and then she'll move somewhere else. He'll find her again, and then she'll go to another spot. At first, I thought we were scaring her, but after he stopped and went to bed, she was still really, really active, even moving from spot to spot to try to be found. It's different from normal nights where she's semi-active, so you can really tell a difference.
Another funny thing with her and Cody is recently he can rest his head lightly on my belly and hear the heartbeat. Every single time he does this, no matter how lightly he does it, or what position, she will noticeably kick him in the head every time. The other day it was little hand pats. It's hilarious. I think it's been really good for Cody too, to get to bond and feel included. If anything's for sure, she really loves her Dad already. As for me, I think she gets enough of me and my talking and day-to-day things. haha."

Life is good. We're just plugging away at life and getting done what we can. Cody is doing well in his last semester and I am making it at work. We've recently hired a bunch of new people, so it's been interesting to navigate through that and still get some work done. I was recently released in my calling at church and re-called to the 'newsletter lady'. It's great because I can let loose and design a monthly calendar with fun things on it. It's interesting how we get the workload we need at the right times.

Now, off to spend v-day with my love. The last one with just the two of us. :)

Baby Details

Yeah, so I have been weird about telling the Internet my good news. I don't know why either. I haven't mentioned it on Facebook directly because I think it's weird to post such personal information on a very public site. I can't really describe it since that's kind of the point, but I guess I'm catching people up slowly but surely. Bear with me.

Anyway, here are the goods:

I am 22.5 weeks along today.

Things are going along near perfectly.

I am due May 11th of this year, just days after Cody's SUU graduation.

I haven't been terribly sick, or enough to really speak of. There are friends around me who have had it way worse than I, so I won't can't really talk or complain.

At 15 weeks (Thanksgiving day actually), I started feeling small flutters of movement.

At 19 weeks, they were full-on kicks.

At 20, Cody could feel them.

At 22, the hiccups have started. I love it. I giggle every time.

We had an ultrasound just before Christmas. Things are growing just as they need to and she is perfect.

We are thrilled.

This is happening at a great time. I know a little bit ago I went on some rant about how I like to work and kids can wait, but it seems like there are greater things in store for Cody and I. I am ready and welcome the challenge. I had my time to work for a bit and by profession can allow me to continue -- when I am ready for that again. I have peace about the whole thing. This is something I need.

Other than that, life is going well. The holidays were good and relaxing. We spent Thanksgiving in Salt Lake with Cody's family. We spent Christmas with my family in StG and enjoyed the good weather. We then trekked back to SLC for New Year's. One of my best roomies got married. After all of the traveling, it's good to be home and back in order. We've got a lot to do in the next little bit, and I am excited to get to work.

Fetus gonna fete .

At long last. :D

Hi.

"The next weekends are going to comprise of a Vegas trip, a wedding, a couple of baby blessings, an extra-special temple trip, an anniversary, a concert or two, and probably a bunch of other things before school starts." -- Clare

Yeah... it was fairly accurate :) I cannot believe it's nearly October. Today we met to talk about RS activities for the year and it was blowing my mind! Time us really speeding up around here... but for now let us review:

My Mom, my sister, and a bunch of cute girls and I all ventured down to Vegas for a day. The actual point of it was to get some colored M&Ms for my sister's wedding, but hey, it was fun. We spent the day walking around and just seeing the sights. We took a break and watched Inception again. (I've seen that 5 times now....... :S) I got to talk to my Mom a lot which was good. Oh yeah! and as we were trying to make our way back to our car we got lost in this massive hurricane of little girls. Turned out there was a Justing Beiber concert that night and it was CRAZY! These girls has shirts that read Mrs. Beiber ... what is this world coming to?

haha

The next weekend was a weekend of love and celebration. My sister got married and while it was a busy day, it all payed off in the end when we saw them married and so happy. If there were ever a couple meant to be together, it's them. A lot of family came to St.George to help share the day. Overall, it was nice.

The next weekend we went North to a baby blessing. Cody's sister had a second little girl in April and it was fun to go up and celebrate. She is the sweetest little baby. So calm, so happy.

After that, Cody and I celebrated 4 years of marriage. It's still so hard to believe the time! We celebrated by going to see Bob Dylan in Park City and then visiting family some more. Dylan was awesome! He sounded so good

School started shortly after that and we transitioned back into that well. Cody turned in his graduation papers so he is good to go for May '11! Hooray! We're now thinking in terms of jobs and whatever's next. It's exciting.

I've been good. Work has mostly been the same and with October quickly approaching, it means the yearly LearnKey Halloween party. I have no idea what to do this year... goody. I've been keeping busy with freelance jobs and a lot of reading. Have you gotten into TheHunger Games series? You should if not. Good stuff, but don't take my word for it ;)

While you're at it, make these too: http://twopeasandtheirpod.com/rolo-cookies/. You won't regret it :)

I think we're updated! This week I'm going to a concert with some coworkers this week and then the next weeks will be spent crazily, but what can you do? It's a good time right now and we are having a blast.

Summer : Part 1

Since the middle of June, we've been insanely busy. Besides our normal lives of working and the occasional good time, our weekends have been packed with memories and tradition, and we're only halfway though.

We Spent a couple of weekends in June camping. We told ourselves that this summer we will make a better effort of getting out and doing what we love. We didn't go too far away, just a little out of Cedar for some peace and quite, and to get to know friends better. I hope we can get out at least one more time before school starts up again.

The next weekend was the 4th of July. With it being Utah, it actually became a weekend celebration instead of one day. I personally loved it. This year we just could not resist Blanding and it's small town charm, so we went and took our friend, Zhou with us, so he could enjoy a classic 4th.

Cody, some of his friends, and Zhou took a day in Monument Valley:

It was nice to be in Blanding. I love escaping and exploring new things every time I go. On our way back home we took part of the day and went to Arches National Park. Zhou and I had never been, so it was really neat to hike the Delicate Arch:

We spent the next weekend enjoying a couple of fun events. It was my sister's bridal shower and Cody's family reunion. Both we good times in their own ways.

This weekend (today) was actually the first one we've been home. It's been good to catch up on housework and sleep :) The next weekends are going to comprise of a Vegas trip, a wedding, a couple of baby blessings, an extra-special temple trip, an anniversary, a concert or two, and probably a bunch of other things before school starts.

One other thing:

Watch this.

:D