Short update....

I had a baby!!! Crazy huh? Yup due November 1st he came (with the help of inducement) November 4th. WELCOME Carter we're so happy you're here now and OH so cute. He is my little man with all of his dark hair see for yourself! 

Arrived 6:33 am 8lbs. 20 1/2 inches.

I could of sworn that I was going to have a dare I say 'ugly' newborn you know pale, bright pink, bruised up. Nope he was so cute, of course a wee bit swollen at first but that went away really fast. The nurses loved bathing him and combing all of his hair, the nurse gave him a little gentleman's part. And he makes his mama look like a vampire with his dark skin, yes I'm bias but he's a cutie for sure! 


Labor HONESTLY wasn't that bad, the whole delivery process was do-able and I'd do it again no problem. That being sad I'm not trying to sound like it was comparable to going out for ice cream... The hardest part was the exhaustion afterwards and coming down off your adrenaline high from the 'big push'. And that paired with a newborn the first week home who has his nights and days mixed up was challenging. It's SO true when they say have ppl come help and take help bc you will need it. I'm very blessed at ALL the help from family/ friends/ neighbors/ and ward memebers. WOW so many people did such great service for us, didn't know we were so loved haha! I need to get some 'thank you's' out for sure. 


THANKSGIVING:
It was Carter's first big 'outing' he got to meet a lot of his cousin's/ great aunts & uncles/ and see great grandma and grandpa again. It was a good one I finally had a SMALL portioned diner so I had lots of room for pie: yummmm. 


DON and I had our first date night on dec 1st a couple days before Carter turned  1 month. Not too bad eh? Even though we were only gone for 40 minutes, it was still nice. And the grandparents are always thrilled to have him for however long they can. We ate out at Magleby's Fresh, very delicious. 


Root Canal's aren't as bad as their rap, but they're annoying bc there expensive! Yes I had my first earlier today.... blah. It's bc I broke a piece of my back molar off giving birth. FOR the record there had already been a cavity there with decay and I grind my teeth constantly, so pushing my son out was the tip of the iceberg and it broke and hurted. Yes I said hurted. Other than that Carter's finally letting mommy sleep longer, I get 3 hours at a time now instead of 1 or 2 at a time! 3 Whole hours! So yes it does get better... 


I'll leave you today with more adorable pictures of you guessed my baby. Enjoy & Happy Holidays! 

Utah Dog Parks

(Here are the locations to any dog owners looking for a park for there pups to 'roam free'. Sandy's park is closer to me, and Im looking forward to taking my dog there soon when I get a chance!) 


Herriman

Salt Lake Dog areas. Location: 6664 Dallas Kyle Drive. 

Park City

Trailside. Small dog park. Located in the Silver Summit area of Park City. Fenced in location located next to playground and soccer fields. There are bags to pick up after pets. Human/canine drinking fountain just down the hill from the dog park. (The water is turned off during the colder seasons to prevent freezing.) Location: Trailside park road. Directions: Take the silver summit exit off of highway 40 and drive straight until you see Trailside park signs. 

Salt Lake City

Herman Frank's Park.  Fenced "off leash" area in between the baseball diamonds. There is a fenced area in between the baseball diamonds that is the "off leash" area for the dogs. Bags are provided for owners to clean up after their dogs. This "off leash" area is open year round. Dogs are not allowed "off leash" in the baseball diamonds or other areas of this park. Enjoy your dogs and thank you for being responsible dog owners.  Location: 1350 South 800 East. Directions: From Salt Lake City head East on 1300 South to 800 East, turn South and you will be on the East side of the park. There is also an entrance to the park from 700 East. 

Jordan Park. Small fenced area on the North end of the park. Dogs are welcome in the other areas Jordan park but they must be kept on a leash. Enjoy your dogs and this "off leash" area. Please remember to always clean up after your dog. Location: 900 West 1000 South. Directions: From Salt Lake City head South on 900 West until you get to 1000 South. There is an entrance to the park on the North end of the park. Turn West into this entrance and there will be a parking lot. The fenced  "off leash" area is just West of the parking lot on the North end of  the park. 

Lindsey Park Dog Park. A couple of hills and sticks o' plenty. Location: 7th avenue and n street. Directions: Take N Street up into the Avenues. When the main street turns left, turn right and park by the tennis courts. The off-leash area is just above the courts. They have bags up the hill a bit. 

Memory Grove. 300 N. Canyon Road (130 East), Salt Lake City, UT 84119. 6am - 11pm, 365 days a year. Not far from Salt Lake City's great, heavy-on-the-granite State Capitol Building, gorgeous Memory Grove offers dogs and their devotees a chance to let the leash off and hike a canyon right in town. Not all of the park is leash-free, so pay attention to posted signs, stick to the trail and keep close to your canine. While there is no fence along the trail, a stream bubbles along one side (pooches have been spotted wading). Larger dogs seem to patronize the park more often, but pups of all persuasions are permitted. If drinking from a stream doesn't appeal to you, pack water for you and your furry one (sun-block also isn't a bad idea for those crystal clear SLC afternoons). Pickup bags and trashcans are available at the end of the trails, and there are benches along the way where you can rest while your baby romps. 

Millcreek Canyon. A canyon on Salt Lake's East side where dogs are permitted on leash on even days and off-leash on odd days. There are lots of trails, streams, and other dogs. There are also lots of joggers and bikers on even days so watch out for them. There is also a small fee to go up the canyon but it is beautiful and definitely worth it. The dogs love it. Location: 3800 S. east mountains. Directions: Take the I-215 3300 and 3900 south exit and travel north to 3800 S. There is a stoplight there, turn east and keep going straight up the canyon. 

Millrace Park. Taylorsville, UT. It completely fenced in, lots of parking, lots of room for the dogs to run, bench for the humans, water fountain for both humans and dogs. Location: 1200 West 5400 South. Directions: Just drive down 5400 South, it's on the north side of the street. 

Parley's Gulch. 2700 East Salt Lake City, UT 84121. 8am - 10pm. When you enter Tanner Park, keep your furry friend restrained and walk until you reach the bridge. Go to the gully near I-80 and I-215 and only then can you consider unleashing your pooch (a good idea for first-timers is to watch where other woofers are liberated). Tanner is not an official dog park, but many unrestrained mongrels and their humans enjoy the trails around the extensive grounds. Keep in mind that you may be asked to leash your pooch at any time, and citations (and fines!) are not out of the question. A fence separates the usual dog area from the busy freeways that run along the north side of the park, so don't worry that your hound might up and hitch a ride (or more realistically, bolt into traffic). Do bring enough water for you and your dog or you'll both be sipping a stream. Cleanup bags are also a smart item to have on hand, although regulars do donate bags in bulk to the park.

Rotary Glen Park. Off leash dog park with pond. Location: East of the Hogle Zoo. It's really muddy and if your dog likes water I'm sure it will jump in the pond, so be prepared.  Directions: Just head up Sunnyside Ave, pass the zoo and its on the same side of the street. You have to pull in through a gate and follow a dirt road to a dirt parking lot. 

Salt Lake Dog Park. In the off season of baseball in the fence. Otherwise two sides are fenced. Location: 1300 South 800 East

Sandy*

*Sandy City Dog Park. New park with grass, boulders, wood chips, benches, and drinking fountains. The park is set back about 50 feet from the road and is completely fenced in. Location: 10200 south 300 east. Directions: From State ST:
turn east onto 10000 south, go up past the Trax station, and turn right onto 300 east. Go all the way to the end of the street, it is a dead end. 

Taylorsville

Millrace Park. Location: 5400 S 1200 W. Directions: From I-15 head West on 5300 S (turns into 5400 S) and the park is on the North side of the road at 1200 W. 

West Jordan

West Jordan Dog Park. Land dedicated by city, but park not built. AGrass in small dog area, larger areas are dirt. Drinking fountains for humans and dogs, but turned off during the winter. Your dog must be licensed and vaccinated before they are allowed in the park. Location: 5982 West New Bingham Highway. Directions: From Bangerter Hiway, go West on 7800 South. Where the road fork, stay left and it becomes New Bingham Highway. 2 miles west, at the Animal Control Building (south/southeast of Animal Control) 

There's a wiener inside me?!!!

It's a boy!

Is it me or does he already resemble mommy? Check out the sucking bottom lip action, I did that as a babe up until about 5 years of age.

I apologize for my misleading and 'naughty' tittle

but that is what you get when you read here so deal!

YES we are having a boy and couldn't be MORE delighted!

We both had strong feelings it was a boy all along, both are families 

wanted a boy so everyone is pleased. My little sister flipped out the most 

when I told her the sex, I was like "wow would you of cried if it were a girl?"

Ultrasounds are crazy cool, they show you everything, I mean everything what an

awesome technology! As of now I'm about 22/ 23 weeks along or maybe more I seem

to loose count...  And he is one very active little bugger, he's going to be very into kung fu

like his daddy. I talk lightly about his kicks and hits now, but wait until he's bigger he might get 

some 'swears' out of mommy! Either way it is a blessing and it reminds me there's a little soul inside

me that God has entrusted into Don and mines hands. Don said the other day "this is weird.. you being pregnant." I said 'weird?' He said "yeah, surreal." I couldn't agree more we've had 5 yeas alone the 2 of us together and now it'll be 3! (plus a puppy and kitty.) I think its a bit more strange for couples who have waited for a baby instead of couples who opt to have children right away, were just so use to it being the 2 of us. I keep flipping it to the show 'Bringing Home Baby' and telling Don 'You see this? This IS going to be us soon!' HA I think I'm also trying to mentally prepare myself just as much as Don. Life is great, even being poor, it can be great. 

Updated Randomness ness ...

Here are some things that have been going on in my life the last few months.... (and then some)

Winter came not too bad of one if you ask me. Got to go snow boarding (not as much as I would of liked as usual) BUT not too bad. (And our pooch really loves the snow if you couldn't guess.)

Then I got to meet Train 
And for free! My (lucky-sister-in-law-concert-buddy) won tickets to their concert along with a couple passes to see them exclusively perform a small acoustic concert at an "Endzone" from 101.9 The End radio station. (RIP 101.9 a couple months after this concert my favorite morning show/ radio station was canceled.)

                       (Pat Monahan is a very small small man with skinny skinny legs, but nice hair...)

2010 International CES (consumer electronic show), Las Vegas
-Yes this is the only picture I took of the WHOLE trip weirdly. I'm known to be a picture nut but seeing as we've been to this convention quite a few times before I didn't care as much this time around. Explaining the picture: Awesome clouds in So Utah (or was it middle UT?...) on the way to Las Vegas. The only reason why we did this trip in early January was BC our good friends Liz & Adam wanted to go, and lets face it trips are a bit more exciting with friends. Trips you shouldn't and can't afford are awesome. (Sadly the day after we arrive home from this trip, Don gets a phone call saying not to come into work the next day. His whole company went under 1,000 ppl plus out of work... )
RIP Kiddie Kandids.

THEN 3 days later I do this to my head:

This picture is PG compared to the ones pre-staples.
Yes I received 7 staples in the back of my head. Some how I got really dehydrated (stressed, gee I wonder why?...) and passed out early in the morning in the bathroom my head broke the fall, but unfortunately the bathtub broke my heads fall. Or something like that. Don rushed in and with me lying on the floor and said "what happened??!!!" I then replied "I'm passing out, get me back to the bed..." (Bad idea.) Right when I get into the bedroom I pass out again and fall forward hitting the side of my face on the frame. The only thing I can remember was trying to say/ mumble "ow ow ow ow owwwwwww"when I came to, bc it really freaking hurt! So I stayed right there on the bedroom floor for a bit, seeing as I was having some bad vertigo. Don propped me up, while I keep complaining that my head really really really hurt, I put my hand on the back of it and looked there was blood on my head. Don looked at and said "yup we have to take you the hospital your going to need to have that taken care of" crap.
   They iv'd me up (I took 2 whole bags of saline I was so dehydrated) and got stapled right up and better .... in a WEEK or two it was a bit slow going recovery when you get a good head injury. Every time I put pressure on the injury it made me want to pass out, and my hair was nasty greasy for a week seeing as washing it became more complicated than ever before. 3 months later the scar is still sore when I put too much pressure on it. It has healed a lot though. What can I say I'm a fainter'.

Valentines Day came and went (this years will be memorable for me for years and years to come.)

The Annual Pony Xpress Trail Xcursion 2010 was another success 2 years in a row! Great turn out, good times. Here's ya an 'after' photo:

OH yeah something cool I forgot to add earlier, over Christmas break (2 weeks long) A bus caught fire in the yard and and damage two other buses that were parked next to it. Yup it was toast, the other two just had cosmetic damage. CRAZY!

                             and the other 2 buses with minor (not looking too minor) damages...

                                 And thought I'd add this one, early one snowy morning

                                                                 Another day at the job

Don's job search is mostly in vain, seeing as there are thousands and thousands of people in his same position right now with this economy. Utah was also slow going into the recession which means it'll take longer for us to pull out. It's scary but can't dwell on it or it'll drive ya crazy. We do what we have to.

I should mentioned that he was hired on at a new store very close to our house. The pay is pathetic but their benefits are why ppl should stick around I'm guessing (which we need badly now.) He is not too happy with it, but it gets him out of the house, while he IS still looking for better work of course.
And plus he looks really cute in his uniform (rawrr).

And how could I forget my children:   Koda and Kitty (Ella)

                                              Anxiously awaiting dinner to be put on the table

                                                            Wait I need a taller table!

Kitty on a chair, 

on a car, 

on a couch, 

on a Don, 

and... on a blanket.

The "Kitty on a ...." gallery is defiantly not closed I have lots more I need to add. 

Kitty to be continued...

What do you say about that Koda how about a high five?!

It was nice catching up some what. I have a scattered eggs brain I might add things that I've missed or post something about carnies' and clowns you never know about me... . 

Mothers Day

My Mom:  

                          “God could not be everywhere, and so He gave us mothers.”

My mom is not your typical mom by any means, and by that I mean she stomps the hell out of the meaning typical! And although she may be half certifiable crazy, she's MY mom and I love her. It took me until I became an adult to realize the true sacrifice that mothers make, and that even though my mom has some problems, I  still love her and need to show her respect. I will never make that mistake again, she can't do anything to loose that from me. She's always enjoyable, she knows how to have fun, she's spontaneous, she's caring, she's blunt, she's sensitive, she loves surprises,  she's always taught me to love the lord and my siblings no matter how mad they may make you. So mom Happy Mothers Day and thank you for passing on your great qualities and even a wee bit of your craziness to me ;) 

I came across this today and couldn't resist posting. (Sorry for the swear word***!)


Whatever you give a woman, she will make it greater. Give her sperm, she will give you a baby. Give her a house, she will give you a home. Give her groceries, she will give you a meal. Give her a smile and she will give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what she is given. So if you give her crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.