I have to begin this post with a preface of our beliefs in order for it to be clear for anyone who isn't a member....
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we firmly believe that revelation still occurs in our day. Not only is there a living prophet on the earth who receives revelations for the Church and the world at large, but we each can receive personal revelations to guide our own lives. These revelations most often come to us simply as thought or feelings as to what we should do.
Several months ago Mike and I began discussing our plans for after he graduates this December. He wants to begin teaching ASL at the college level while he gets his Masters. We thought he could just apply for jobs and to grad school and we could move wherever a job or school took us. I never like change but this was a plan I could handle.
Well, the Lord has different plans for us. Shortly after we "decided" that this is what we would do we both began receiving promptings that we should move back to Utah. Keep in mind that when we left Utah 3 years ago we planed on never going back. But the promptings continued and we KNEW that we are supposed to move. Not only are we supposed to move back, but we're supposed to move immediately after Mike graduates.
So, at the end of December we will be moving back to Utah. Why? We say just like Adam said "I know not, save the Lord hath commanded me." I've already told my work and everything. I'm not going to lie, it's a bit stressful to think of leaving a stable job in this economy and moving to the unknown. But, I also know from experience that the Lord never prompts us to do something without supporting us. The pieces will fall in to place. So, rather than stress and worry about things, I'm trying to simply have faith and see this as a great adventure.
Utah, here we come!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
My Girls
Eliza is already 2 1/2 weeks old! The time has flown by and yet I can't remember what it feels like to not be a family of four. When Hazel was born I remember instantly falling in love with her and thinking I couldn't possibly have room for any more love because I loved her so much. Well, guess what - I had room for more:)
Eliza is a very sweet little girl. She reminds me of Hazel is so many ways. Not only do they look a lot alike, but she has many of the same mannerisms Hazel had as a baby. She has been a very calm baby overall just like Hazel was, but don't let those girls get hungry. Both of them go from calm to crazy in about a second when they are hungry. My family used to call it the "psycho Hazel" when she got so upset and now they've passed the nick-name down to Eliza. One thing she does that Hazel never did is make the most adorable squeaky sounds as she is waking up. It melts my heart!
Hazel has been doing very well with Eliza (much better than we expected). She hasn't seemed jealous at all and loves her little sister. Here are a few of the cute things she does....
- We got Eliza an elephant lovey since Hazel loves her frog and giraffe so much. Any time Hazel finds the lovey not with Eliza she brings it to her and says "Here baby Liza."
- Any time Hazel wakes up from a nap she has to go look for Eliza and give her a kiss.
- She talks to Eliza in this sweet high-pitched voice and says cute things like "Don't be sad Eliza" or "Good morning Eliza!" She's going to be a great mommy someday.
A lot of people warned us that Hazel would regress with potty training, sleeping, etc but she hasn't one bit. In fact, she's had only one accident since Eliza was born (and it was my fault because she told me she had to go and I didn't take her right away).We're proud of her for being such a good big sister. One thing we have also loved is that Hazel has been more cuddly since Eliza was born. Now we have two little cuddlers - yay!
Both of the girls had check-ups yesterday (2 weeks for Eliza and 2 years for Hazel). Eliza gained over a pound since she saw the doctor when she was 3 days old. She's now 7 lbs 13 oz! Hazel is growing like a weed too. She is 36" tall and weighs 24 pounds now (she's still 95% for height and only 10% for weight haha).
This post was a bit scattered but there you have it. We love our girls!
Eliza is a very sweet little girl. She reminds me of Hazel is so many ways. Not only do they look a lot alike, but she has many of the same mannerisms Hazel had as a baby. She has been a very calm baby overall just like Hazel was, but don't let those girls get hungry. Both of them go from calm to crazy in about a second when they are hungry. My family used to call it the "psycho Hazel" when she got so upset and now they've passed the nick-name down to Eliza. One thing she does that Hazel never did is make the most adorable squeaky sounds as she is waking up. It melts my heart!
Hazel has been doing very well with Eliza (much better than we expected). She hasn't seemed jealous at all and loves her little sister. Here are a few of the cute things she does....
- We got Eliza an elephant lovey since Hazel loves her frog and giraffe so much. Any time Hazel finds the lovey not with Eliza she brings it to her and says "Here baby Liza."
- Any time Hazel wakes up from a nap she has to go look for Eliza and give her a kiss.
- She talks to Eliza in this sweet high-pitched voice and says cute things like "Don't be sad Eliza" or "Good morning Eliza!" She's going to be a great mommy someday.
A lot of people warned us that Hazel would regress with potty training, sleeping, etc but she hasn't one bit. In fact, she's had only one accident since Eliza was born (and it was my fault because she told me she had to go and I didn't take her right away).We're proud of her for being such a good big sister. One thing we have also loved is that Hazel has been more cuddly since Eliza was born. Now we have two little cuddlers - yay!
Both of the girls had check-ups yesterday (2 weeks for Eliza and 2 years for Hazel). Eliza gained over a pound since she saw the doctor when she was 3 days old. She's now 7 lbs 13 oz! Hazel is growing like a weed too. She is 36" tall and weighs 24 pounds now (she's still 95% for height and only 10% for weight haha).
This post was a bit scattered but there you have it. We love our girls!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
When I play my favorite sport....
A little background info for this post.... Hazel LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the Signing Time series. They are DVDs that teach different signs to music. We always have at least one Signing Time movie from the library and Hazel watches it every morning when she gets up. One of her favorite Signing Time videos is the sports one. Ever since watching the sports Signing Time she has had a strange obsession with baseball.
Because she has been so interested in baseball, Mike told her that after baby Eliza was born we would take her to a baseball game. Baby Eliza also brought Hazel a present when she was born (fitting since she was born on Hazel's birthday). Eliza got her a baseball bat:)
On Tuesday night we took Hazel down to the Sky Sox game. She had a blast! The whole time she kept singing one of the Signing Time songs "When I play my favorite sport, baseball is my game." She would also say "Play ball!"
She also loved the mascot - Sox the Fox. She pointed him out any time she saw him. I took her up to see him at which point she decided he was scary and wouldn't go near him. Thankfully someone offered to take a picture of the two of us with Sox.
Eliza slept through most of the game but woke up near the end:) I love, love, love that face!
Overall it was a great night! Good family time, good baseball, and one very happy little girl:)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Pictures
Because this is all you really want to see anyways...
Mike's interpreter. We were able to request the same person we had for Hazel's delivery because she is wonderful! Thanks Sandy!
Ready to go home!
Mike's interpreter. We were able to request the same person we had for Hazel's delivery because she is wonderful! Thanks Sandy!
I love this picture! Have you ever seen a prouder daddy?
Ready to go home!
And I saved the best for last. Our new little family of four!
Eliza's arrival
Here's the story of Eliza's arrival for those who care to read it.....
I mentioned in our camping post that I started having contractions on Saturday but they stopped. Well this pattern continued every day that week. I would start having contractions in the evening but they would eventually stop despite me walking/cleaning like a crazy woman to try and keep them going. On Thursday I went to my doctor's appointment and was dilated to 4cm. My doctor asked if I wanted her to strip my membranes saying that if my body was ready this would help labor start. I was all for it so she went ahead. I had also already arranged to meet with a friend that night for her to give me a "labor inducing foot treatment." She did a foot soak and massage plus some accu-pressure points (who knows how much this helped but it sure felt great!)
That night I started having contractions about 10pm so I started walking:) About 1am my contractions were getting closer together and I had some bleeding so we called a friend to come stay with Hazel at the house. When I got to the hospital I was still only dilated to 4cm but my contractions were regular so they sent me to walk around for an hour. In my hour of walking I dilated to 5cm so they admitted me (this was about 5am).
I continued to have regular contractions for the next hour but they weren't picking up at all and I wasn't making any more progress (my pain was still pretty mild at this point too). After more walking didn't speed things up, my doctor decided to start me on some Pitocin. (I had a similar "stall" in my labor with Hazel but it happened further in to the labor). My contractions picked up a bit but I still wasn't progressing. Instead of giving me more Pitocin, my doctor came in and broke my water at 8am. At this point I was expecting a fairly long, drawn out labor. Boy was I wrong....
About 5 minutes after the doctor left the room I started having extremely intense contractions. I went from maybe a 3 on the pain scale to a 9 or a 10 just like that. Needless to say after about 3 contractions like that I called my nurse to request my epidural. Sadly, the anesthesiologist had just gone back for a C-section. Because the pain had come on so abruptly I wasn't handling it as well as I had with Hazel so I agreed to let them give me an IV pain medicine while I waited for my epidural. To be honest it didn't help much at all and made me feel kinda dizzy. Thankfully, my sister (who is a nurse) arrived about this time and helped me through the next 45 minutes. Sitting still for the epidural was a nightmare, but then I felt so much better (still the best medical invention of all time).
They put in the epidural about 9am and by 9:20 I was nearly pain free (and around 6cm dilated). I was so tired by this point that I was literally having a hard time keeping my eyes open. I was beginning to doze off but then about 9:45 I started to feel some pain/pressure again. I called in the nurse to let her know the epidural didn't seem to be working. She informed the anesthesiologist and decided to check me again just in case. We were both shocked because it turned out I had fully dilated in 20 minutes! She quickly called the doctor and I started pushing about 10am. It had been a whirlwind two hours for me and I was still feeling off from the IV medication. But as I started pushing everything became very peaceful. The doctor asked if I remembered how to push and I said I thought I did so she had the nurse not coach me at all. (I love my doctor for things like that) Within 15 minutes I was holding my beautiful girl!
Like I said, it was a whirlwind of a labor for me those last two hours, but oh so worth it to meet Eliza!
Shortly afterwards my parent brought Hazel in to meet her sister. She seemed confused at first that baby Eliza was now out of my tummy. Her face in this picture says it all...
But by the time they came back later that afternoon she seemed okay with the idea....
She has been a great big sister so far!
I mentioned in our camping post that I started having contractions on Saturday but they stopped. Well this pattern continued every day that week. I would start having contractions in the evening but they would eventually stop despite me walking/cleaning like a crazy woman to try and keep them going. On Thursday I went to my doctor's appointment and was dilated to 4cm. My doctor asked if I wanted her to strip my membranes saying that if my body was ready this would help labor start. I was all for it so she went ahead. I had also already arranged to meet with a friend that night for her to give me a "labor inducing foot treatment." She did a foot soak and massage plus some accu-pressure points (who knows how much this helped but it sure felt great!)
That night I started having contractions about 10pm so I started walking:) About 1am my contractions were getting closer together and I had some bleeding so we called a friend to come stay with Hazel at the house. When I got to the hospital I was still only dilated to 4cm but my contractions were regular so they sent me to walk around for an hour. In my hour of walking I dilated to 5cm so they admitted me (this was about 5am).
I continued to have regular contractions for the next hour but they weren't picking up at all and I wasn't making any more progress (my pain was still pretty mild at this point too). After more walking didn't speed things up, my doctor decided to start me on some Pitocin. (I had a similar "stall" in my labor with Hazel but it happened further in to the labor). My contractions picked up a bit but I still wasn't progressing. Instead of giving me more Pitocin, my doctor came in and broke my water at 8am. At this point I was expecting a fairly long, drawn out labor. Boy was I wrong....
About 5 minutes after the doctor left the room I started having extremely intense contractions. I went from maybe a 3 on the pain scale to a 9 or a 10 just like that. Needless to say after about 3 contractions like that I called my nurse to request my epidural. Sadly, the anesthesiologist had just gone back for a C-section. Because the pain had come on so abruptly I wasn't handling it as well as I had with Hazel so I agreed to let them give me an IV pain medicine while I waited for my epidural. To be honest it didn't help much at all and made me feel kinda dizzy. Thankfully, my sister (who is a nurse) arrived about this time and helped me through the next 45 minutes. Sitting still for the epidural was a nightmare, but then I felt so much better (still the best medical invention of all time).
They put in the epidural about 9am and by 9:20 I was nearly pain free (and around 6cm dilated). I was so tired by this point that I was literally having a hard time keeping my eyes open. I was beginning to doze off but then about 9:45 I started to feel some pain/pressure again. I called in the nurse to let her know the epidural didn't seem to be working. She informed the anesthesiologist and decided to check me again just in case. We were both shocked because it turned out I had fully dilated in 20 minutes! She quickly called the doctor and I started pushing about 10am. It had been a whirlwind two hours for me and I was still feeling off from the IV medication. But as I started pushing everything became very peaceful. The doctor asked if I remembered how to push and I said I thought I did so she had the nurse not coach me at all. (I love my doctor for things like that) Within 15 minutes I was holding my beautiful girl!
Like I said, it was a whirlwind of a labor for me those last two hours, but oh so worth it to meet Eliza!
Shortly afterwards my parent brought Hazel in to meet her sister. She seemed confused at first that baby Eliza was now out of my tummy. Her face in this picture says it all...
But by the time they came back later that afternoon she seemed okay with the idea....
She has been a great big sister so far!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Welcome Eliza!
Eliza Rosalyn Ballard
July 8, 2011 (Yes that is Hazel's birthday too!)
10:16am
7 lbs 1 oz, 18 3/4 inches
More info and stories coming soon....
July 8, 2011 (Yes that is Hazel's birthday too!)
10:16am
7 lbs 1 oz, 18 3/4 inches
More info and stories coming soon....
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!
I can't believe that two years ago you looked like this....
The time has flown by and you've grown up so fast. Mommy and Daddy love you sweet little Hazel! Happy 2nd Birthday!
The time has flown by and you've grown up so fast. Mommy and Daddy love you sweet little Hazel! Happy 2nd Birthday!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Camping, 9 months pregnant style
Who knows why but there's some sick tradition in our family that we going camping when I'm very, very pregnant. We went over the 4th of July when I was pregnant with Hazel then she was born on the 8th.
Well true to form we went camping on Friday night. Part of the reason we decided to go was simply this was the only weekend we could go and we really wanted to take Hazel before Eliza was born. So, we packed up and went camping up near Rampart Reservoir (about 30 mins from our house). I love that the mountains are so close! We met friends from our ward and their two kids which made it even better for Hazel.
The weather was wonderful and we had a great time! We couldn't have a fire due to burning restrictions, but we made it by without one. Friday night the kids played in the dirt until they were brown from head to toe.
Hazel actually slept really well but was up at 5:15am! Crazy girl. After breakfast we went to Rampart Reservoir. We had never been and it was so beautiful! See Pike's Peak in the background? We will definately be coming up here more.
At first Hazel was a bit hesitant about the water. She started out like this...
then moved to this...
but by the end she was sitting in the water fully clothed haha...
Kiara was in heaven too because she was able to swim! She swam so hard and has been sleeping ever since, haha.
After the lake we packed up camp and headed in to Woodland Park for lunch before coming home. When we got home on Saturday I got it in to my head to try and start my labor.... I had been having some irregular contractions in the evenings on both Thursday and Friday so Saturday I decided I would put away all the camping stuff, do all the laundry, and clean the house until it was spotless to keep those contractions coming. It sort of worked because I did start having regular contractions (at one point they were about 5-8 mins apart and were starting to hurt. I even called my mom to let her know she might need to come down soon). Then after about 2 1/2 total hours of contractions, out of no where they slowed down. Boo! I've had a few more on and off all night and some this morning too so hopefully Eliza will be coming soon. We'll see....
This morning Hazel was talking about how "Gram and Grandpa come Hazel's house today!" so I asked her who else was coming (expecting her to say my sister Gabby and her husband from Utah). But, she said "Baby Eliza!" Maybe she knows something I don't:)
Well true to form we went camping on Friday night. Part of the reason we decided to go was simply this was the only weekend we could go and we really wanted to take Hazel before Eliza was born. So, we packed up and went camping up near Rampart Reservoir (about 30 mins from our house). I love that the mountains are so close! We met friends from our ward and their two kids which made it even better for Hazel.
The weather was wonderful and we had a great time! We couldn't have a fire due to burning restrictions, but we made it by without one. Friday night the kids played in the dirt until they were brown from head to toe.
Hazel actually slept really well but was up at 5:15am! Crazy girl. After breakfast we went to Rampart Reservoir. We had never been and it was so beautiful! See Pike's Peak in the background? We will definately be coming up here more.
At first Hazel was a bit hesitant about the water. She started out like this...
then moved to this...
but by the end she was sitting in the water fully clothed haha...
Kiara was in heaven too because she was able to swim! She swam so hard and has been sleeping ever since, haha.
After the lake we packed up camp and headed in to Woodland Park for lunch before coming home. When we got home on Saturday I got it in to my head to try and start my labor.... I had been having some irregular contractions in the evenings on both Thursday and Friday so Saturday I decided I would put away all the camping stuff, do all the laundry, and clean the house until it was spotless to keep those contractions coming. It sort of worked because I did start having regular contractions (at one point they were about 5-8 mins apart and were starting to hurt. I even called my mom to let her know she might need to come down soon). Then after about 2 1/2 total hours of contractions, out of no where they slowed down. Boo! I've had a few more on and off all night and some this morning too so hopefully Eliza will be coming soon. We'll see....
This morning Hazel was talking about how "Gram and Grandpa come Hazel's house today!" so I asked her who else was coming (expecting her to say my sister Gabby and her husband from Utah). But, she said "Baby Eliza!" Maybe she knows something I don't:)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Happy Brithday to You!
On Saturday we had Hazel's birthday party. I really didn't want to risk having to cancel it if I was in labor so we planned it early. Hazel didn't mind:) She has been singing happy birthday to herself for weeks now and couldn't wait for her party.
There were three things she REALLY wanted at her party. 1) an Elmo cake, 2) party hats, and 3) balloons. I'm glad to oblige such easy requests.
I made the cake and I must say I'm super proud of the way it turned out. It had a whipped cream frosting which made it taste amazing too...
The morning of her party Mike and I let Hazel open a few presents from us. One of her gifts was a sleeping bag which she LOVES. We plan to go camping this weekend (provided I'm not in labor) and she is so excited to sleep in her sleeping bag in the tent.
Gram and Grandpa came down for the celebration. Hazel got a ton of clothes from Gram and some play-doh which she is obsessed with.
I love how hard she's trying to make play-doh noodles:)
We had the party in the park near our church with just a few friends. It was perfect weather! I loved that we kept things simple because it was just right for a group of two years olds.
There were three things she REALLY wanted at her party. 1) an Elmo cake, 2) party hats, and 3) balloons. I'm glad to oblige such easy requests.
I made the cake and I must say I'm super proud of the way it turned out. It had a whipped cream frosting which made it taste amazing too...
The morning of her party Mike and I let Hazel open a few presents from us. One of her gifts was a sleeping bag which she LOVES. We plan to go camping this weekend (provided I'm not in labor) and she is so excited to sleep in her sleeping bag in the tent.
Gram and Grandpa came down for the celebration. Hazel got a ton of clothes from Gram and some play-doh which she is obsessed with.
I love how hard she's trying to make play-doh noodles:)
We had the party in the park near our church with just a few friends. It was perfect weather! I loved that we kept things simple because it was just right for a group of two years olds.
The birthday girl!
Party Hat!
Hazel and her friend Gianna.
Blowing out her candle. She talked about this all week. "Hazel blow out my candle!"
Mylee, Hazel, and Gianna enjoying their drinks.
After cake we were off to the playground!
It really was a great party. Low stress and the kids had a blast. If only all future parties would be so easy:)
Blowing out her candle. She talked about this all week. "Hazel blow out my candle!"
Mylee, Hazel, and Gianna enjoying their drinks.
After cake we were off to the playground!
It really was a great party. Low stress and the kids had a blast. If only all future parties would be so easy:)
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