This past year UDOT has been constructing a major road through our town. Because this road runs right along our backyard, we got to watch the progress. Every week or so Scott would take one of the kids on a walk to see the progress. I would usually stay back with the other two kids. To keep me up to date on the progress, Scott would take pictures. This on is my favorite! This is a culvert built under the road for the water that runs down dry creek.

2/2009

It seems that lately Scott and I have been completing fewer and fewer conversations. Mid sentence, I am interrupted yet again by one of the older kiddos. All they want is to express their opinion on whatever subject we happen to be discussing. There are times, I just stop talking. Last week, I realized that its the kids that can pull parents apart. Seriously, stick with me on this one.

Before kids we were able to talk about anything, anytime, and for as long as was needed. We could make spontaneous decisions and leave at a moments notice to go to a movie, or dinner, or spend time with friends. The biggest dilemma was coordinating the use of our one car. Working full-time and going to school full-time was a breeze compared to what I go through each day with kids.

Now, whenever we attempt ANY outing, it seems like there is a whole laundry list of things that have to happen before we can get out the front door. Are you dressed? Go potty. Put on your socks and shoes. When did you eat last. Are you thirsty. Grab a jacket. Stop fighting. Please don't scream. Where's your backpack, lunch, jacket? No, we are not going to McDonalds. In case the movie is sold out, we'll watch something at home.... The list goes on and on and on

But, I also know that it is through parenthood that I am learning to be more patient, tolerant, long-suffering, charitable, less selfish.

Gone are the young married days. I wouldn't go back to those days if I had the choice. That was the funnest time for Scott and me. But, learning and growing and becoming the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be involves these sweet little angels that try my patience every waking minute of the day. I love them dearly. One day all my kiddos will move on with their own lives and Scott and I will be left with just each other and a priceless pile of pictures.

2/2010

Cute kids. 'nuff said!

12/2009

Jackson had so much fun in Kindergarten. This picture is from the Christmas program that his class put on. Cutie-patuties! Mrs. Wright sure was the right teacher for Jackson.

11/2009

Last November my sweet Jackson turned the ripe old age of 6! I took Jackson and Annalee to IHOP for breakfast, in their P.J.'s! They had so much fun testing out the gingerbread and chocolate chip pancakes. That evening, after daddy made it home from work, Jackson got to open his birthday presents! The most anticipated gift was a scooter! Since it is a little chilly in November, we headed out to Classic Skating so that the Jackson could test out that new scooter.

Jackson, we had so much fun with you on your birthday. Your 7th birthday falls on Thanksgiving. Hmmm, what should we do this year?

Ugh..

Somebody really should update this blog. It's boring to see the same post for five months. Maybe I should take a class that motivates people to excel by offering grades, or something...
Since having that beautiful baby....
..in no particular order..
School ended for my Kindergartner
I got a new calling in my ward, Relief Society 2nd Counselor
Bought a new/used minivan
Put our VW Jetta up for sale, we still have it...
Got a beehive up and running (love checking on my girls every week!)
Signed myself up to run a 1/2 marathon
Gave Annie a bike for her 4th birthday
Took the family to the canyon on Annie's birthday to ride in the mountains
Had my 30th birthday
Got myself a bike on my birthday
Hiking with the kids twice in AF Canyon
Survived a Davis family reunion with 28 people
Thanksgiving Point Children's Garden
Toured Kennecott Copper Mine
Jackson went to Lagoon with Scott
Annie and Evan were in the Lehi Parade
Planted and pretended to weed a vegetable garden
Ate green beans and yellow summer squash from said vegetable garden
Library
Playing at the park with friends
Scott's employer has now switched from CyberSource/Authorize.Net to VISA Inc.

Really, not as much as the average mom with kids at home for the summer, but hey, I just had a baby! Can't wait for school to start. Jackson sure is getting bored of watching me clean toilets!

You Are Doing This

June 10, 2009, I found out that I was pregnant. I'll always remember the day because it was the day after my Sweet Annalee's third birthday. After confirming my condition, I simply emailed Scott at work with an illustration of a bunch of cells that represented a 6 week pregnancy and the words: "Don't tell anyone." We kept our little secret for quite some time. I was about 18 weeks pregnant before we spilled the beans. At about the time that I thought I needed a little more room in my clothes and succumbed to the dreaded maternity box.

Time marched on, and we continued to grow.

Scott and I both had agreed upon not finding out the gender of our growing baby. The usual questioned were asked with the usual responses.

"So, are you having a girl or a boy?"

"We don't know"

"Oh, I could NEVER do that. I am too impatient"

or

"Well, you have one of each, so you're already prepared"

or

"Why?"

"Because there are far too little surprises in life, and I like a good surprise."

The same questions and responses over and over. Honestly, I really did want the surprise. There were times I was tempted to find out, but I am glad we didn't.

Pregnancy is an amazing experience that comes with it's high points and low point. For the most part, I do extremely well. Considering how tough it can get, my biggest complaint is heartburn. There are far more serious complications that I am thankful I do not have to endure.

The time passed slowly, but the moment that resulted in a beautiful baby happened last Tuesday, 2/9/10. I woke up at 1am and discovered that my water broke.

A quiet "Hey," was all I needed to say to get Scott's attention. He came right into the bathroom and understood my situation immediately. I took a few minutes to shower and collect a few things to take to the hospital while Scott called my dad. He was put 'on call' to be the one to stay with our kids when we needed to make a dash to the hospital.

At about 2:30 am, we were at the doors of the Women's Center of the hospital. After explaining what was going on, we were admitted and promptly 'checked' to see where I was at in the labor process. For the past two appointments with my doctor, I was at a mere one centimeter out of ten. What a relief to be told I was at four centimeters.

A very common question at this point would be "Do you want an epidural?" With my first pregnancy, the response was a very committed "YES." I had already endured 10 excruciating hours of back labor and was scared to have to endure more. With the second pregnancy, which started a lot milder, I was told that I needed to decide right away because the anesthesiologist was about to go home and they didn't want to call him right back. So, with the second one, I did say yes, but it was more out of convenience.

Throughout this pregnancy, I kept thinking that if labor started like my second one, I was willing to endure the labor longer. After all, nothing is worse that back labor. So, when the nursing staff asked if I wanted that blessed epidural, I calmly refused. "I'm up for the challenge to see how far I can get."

To fill the time, we sat and read books. I had brought "Alice in Wonderland" thinking it would be enough of a distraction to help me through the contractions but it turned out to be a disappointment. The book really was boring and too fragmented. This is one time that I'd say the movie was better than the book. Either way, I calmly managed each contraction. I knew when one was starting, peaking and diminishing. When one was starting, I simply put my head down, closed my eyes and continued with controlled breathing until it was diminishing. Scott and the nurse knew to stop talking during each contraction and we'd resume our conversation when it was over.

Labor did get wild at the end. For the last three centimeters, the baby's heart rate would drop at the wrong time during a contraction. I was laid down on my side, given an oxygen mask and told to breath deeply. Easier said than done. Once I was laid down, my labor turned into that excruciating back labor and I couldn't do anything about it. The contractions started piling up on top of each other without a break in between to prepare for the next one. Just as I was 'complete' I felt mother natures overwhelming urges to PUSH. Scott has since said that he now knows that I have a set of lungs. I pretty much lost my voice while my body was pushing. I was doing my best to push, but really, it was my body and mother nature that did the job. I just had to endure it.

Evan Liddell Davis was born at 7:50 am on February 9, 2010. He weighed 8lbs and was 19.5in long.

What a beautiful boy!! I am so thankful that he is now a part of our family and we can already feel his sweet spirit.

I keep asking myself how I was able to endure labor and delivery without an epidural.

I have an amazing husband. Scott would support me in anything that I wanted to do, even if it seemed too hard or impossible. He was there for me the entire time. We were so united during that experience. He knew exactly what to do for me and never once got offended or made it 'about himself.'

I was mentally prepared for the challenge. I had reread the labor and delivery section of my book countless times. I also had experience on my side.

One other element added to my success of natural delivery and I realized this on the drive home from the hospital. My labor nurse, Page, knew exactly what to say. She didn't say "You can do this," or "I've seen lots of women go natural." There are a number of other cliche phrases that she could have used that would have been more aggravating than encouraging. She simply said,

"You are doing this."