Why wouldn't you be a mamma?

I usually just post about our cute family but recently I read an article about "Childless Marriages, By Choice". As I read/listened to couples talk about why they choose not to be parents I started thinking of all the parents who want to be parents but can't and myself as a new mommy. A lot of the people were talking about how they want to come home and focus on themselves or not have to be "put together" for their children. Or they don't get a long well with other peoples children and don't know how they could possible get along with their own children. Then I thought about the moment they placed Gracie in my arms for the very first time and the tears started. I can't describe the feeling of looking down at YOUR baby, they have you eyes, your husbands nose and you instantly know they are yours. They need you and it's the most rewarding feeling you can possibly feel. As I sat and read those people's reasons I couldn't help but think if you could just have the feeling of your child in your arms for the first time you would have 12! (or at least one) Then my mind started drifting to the things I've learned since being a new mommy and I got it down to the top ten most important:

1. You're the mom: No matter how many times some stranger tells you how to parent they will never be the parent of your child. You know your child's specific needs, follow your mommy gut.

2. Let your husband do some work, even if it isn't how you would do it: I found myself getting impatient with Chase because he would do things so slow and not the way I would do it. Then one day I woke up  to a squirt of poop and realized how exhausted I was. I was never more grateful for Chases willingness to change that diaper and have never been more grateful for every diaper he has changed after that.

3. Your Marriage should be your top priority still: this is a hard one. Your baby is going to suck the life out of you, literally. But when it comes down to it that marriage and spouse gave you that beautiful gift.

4. Be grateful: Heavenly Father gave you a beautiful gift that not everyone gets the opportunity to experience that love you are feeling towards your blessing(s) so just simply be grateful.

5. Learn to get ready in under 30 minutes (shower included): I had to cut my hair to something that looked cute if I didn't do it everyday because you WILL NOT have time to get ready every day. I promise.

6. Love your new mommy body: this is probably the hardest one. I had hoped I would walk out of the hospital a size zero again, safe to say that didn't happen. As much as I would like to have my body back exactly like it was before I wouldn't trade  being a mother for that.

7. Get Ready: (in under 30 minutes haha) maybe not like you did before but every day try to put some makeup on and at least comb your hair. You will feel better, more alive, and more like yourself after having a baby.

8. Bring two diapers: When you go to change your baby don't just bring the new diaper, bring an extra. I cannot tell you how many times we put the clean diaper under her and she poops/pees all over it. You don't want to leave that hanging out while you run to grab a diaper.

9.Spend time alone: Go walk around target or go for a run. As much of a blessing that it is to be a mother you need some "you" time so you don't go crazy. It's also a good chance for daddy to bond with the baby.

10. You will never do anything more worth while: The first time Gracie smiled at me, I melted. She is mine and I am hers.

A Gracie Story

Well Gracie is here! She was born on July 3, 2013 and we are more in love than I ever thought possible! She is so fun and growing so fast, in fact she is 4 weeks old today! She has got some chubby cheeks! I am so thankful for her sweet spirit and the way she has blessed our lives. I cant describe the feeling of what it's like to be a mother but it's the best, most rewarding, most spiritual calling I have ever had. Secretly I love when she is crying and then she comes to me, she snuggles up and stops crying :) She is becoming so smart! She knows if she lets out a little cry someone will run to her and pick her up. Gracie is one spoiled girl! Time is flying by oh so fast and we are just trying to enjoy ever minute of it!

She weighed 6lbs and 14 ounces

This is her cute outfit to come home in!

right when we got home grandpa wanted to take a nap with her

I thought I was suppose to be the tired one?

Gracie came out sucking on her hands and was kinda mad when we put the mits on! Not a time goes by she doesn't sleep with her hands on her face, it's the only way she can fall asleep!

big yawns for mamma

they really get nothing done these days. They keep telling us we won't really leave, I think my dad started tearing up yesterday at the thought of us moving in a few weeks!

she is getting so big! She looks skinny minny in this one!

This is the first time she smiled with her eyes open!

Waiting on a Gracie

Well we are in our last weeks of pregnancy :) I feel like the last few weeks have been months or even years! I guess you can call me impatient, but I just want to cuddle my little girl. I have been trying to keep myself busy since I am not working or going to school by making a quilt, painting Gracie a dresser and glider Paul and Karen gave us, cleaning my parents' house, and organizing and reorganizing Gracie's clothes. That only took me three days, so if any of you have projects, send them my way ;) We had an awesome time in TN with our family and glad I could keep busy with the kids those four weeks. Chase worked crazy hours and I got the fun part of being with my sister-in-laws and cute nieces and nephews. While in TN we had a bit of a scare and we were sent to labor and deliver to make sure sweet Gracie was okay. She is fine and still in my belly :) It was good to come home and feel the safety of my doctor not too far away. Chase and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary shortly after coming home! How wonderful it is to be married to my best friend! We found it only fitting to attend the temple that day and go to a nice dinner. Kneeling across that alter from him and remembering the feelings I had the year before was so spiritual and enlightening.

 Since then, Chase has found an awesome job at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, worked as a wrestling coach at a UVU Camp, and started back working out and wrestling for the summer. We also went to the hospital the other night for some strong contractions and Gracie wasn't moving enough!! Most of you know but our sweet stubborn little girl won't flip head down and her due date is in three weeks. So I knew I wasn't in labor but I was concerned about the lack of movement. Long story short we went home three hours later with a healthy/still sideways baby. My doctor said she can turn when she wants to but isn't sure she will by her due date so we are planning a c-section for June 29 (most likely). It's funny because since I was three months pregnant I told everyone that I think she will come June 29 for some reason. I have always had a strong impression about that day and it just so happens that is when my doctor is suggesting, coincidence? I think not!! :) Hopefully the days will speed by and Gracie will be in our arms before we know it!

Ready Set A TON of pictures:

I felt so big but compared to now that is nothing for 29 weeks!

waiting for a ride in TN

first day in TN

my little b-bug cruizin 

Took the kids to Servpro to eat with their daddy when mommy was gone :)

My two Artists 

I'd claim her as my own!

haha this is how James watches TV

Priceless Cake, made by yours truly, for Kellen's B-day!

my sweet Ivy

Ivy is out, James is watching my little pony. He might be confused why they are all pink?

33 weeks and the week of our scary hospital visit, Yikes!

happy anniversary to the best husband alive :)

our anniversary day :)

Chase is one lucky uncle with cute nieces like this!

back home and still preggers

we missed the 36 weeks picture and look how big my tummy got!

Us trying to put the worm in the grass, I had to convince Kellen not to run it over with his jeep haha

A shower for our princess :)

Gracie and I had a baby shower this past weekend and can I just say THANK YOU!! We received more than I could have dreamed of. Our little girl is set with about every pink outfit made haha Thank you to all who came and supported our growing family. Also a big thanks to a new grandma (my mom) who gave me this wonderful shower and who always has a cute new outfit for our Gracie every time I see her haha I love you mom and appreciate you more than words can say. Thanks for the family who was here from out-of-state! You guys made the weekend very fun and exhausting ;)

School ended for BYU yesterday and UVU gets done Friday! I can't wait for finals to be over tho! Chase and I can't wait to come to Tennessee next week! Especially me because I get to do nothing but play with our sweet nieces and nephews! Happy birthday to a wonderful sister in-law Marion and her cute Olive :) we hope you two had wonderful birthdays!

27 weeeeeksssss

Could not be more excited for our Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag :)

28 weeks

Chase and Gracie Dancing on Just Dance 4

Shake it Chase ;)

This is Chase Saying "Stop taking picture!!"

Our beautiful Gracie going to church with us

Pink, Pink, and more Pink

So...A lot more people are reading this thing..makes me nervous haha But I have been asked to give an update about what we are doing cause a lot of people don't know :) I am currently at BYU majoring in Finance and Chase is wrestling away at UVU majoring in Accounting. We have a few more weeks of school then we will be heading to visit with Chase's family in Tennessee for a whole month! We are very excited! We will then come back at the end of May to get ready for our baby girl Gracie! I am seven months this Saturday and man has time flown! I guess people don't know (those who do bear with me) but we do plan on living in Tennessee in the next two or three years :) We are enjoying my family while they live close to us and are excited my parents will get to have their first grand baby around for a while! Gracie is already a spoiled little girl and she isn't even here yet! My mom, my sister, and I made her flowers and head bands for her hair this weekend while the boys were at priesthood. I find myself buying every little girls outfit I see! My first baby shower is this weekend and I am getting so excited :) I am doing all the decorations (secretly design is my passion) which probably wasn't the best idea because I am buying ever pink candy and decoration I see. haha We are so excited to be mommy and daddy to our little blessing.

General Conference for The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was this weekend and what powerful messages we were able to listen to. I would just like to bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and how thankful I am for a Prophet on the earth today to guide and direct my family. I am so happy Gracie can be born into the covenant and that we can be an eternal family. I am thankful for faith in times of trial and I am thankful for the hope the gospel brings. I know that Jesus Christ atoned for my sins and wants nothing more than for me to live in exaltation with Chase and my Children. I love this gospel and am thankful for the blessings I have today. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen. If you didn't catch conference LDS.org has all the sessions and talks or if you fell asleep during one or two ;)

Chase decided to run in the 100 meter dash for fun and got third in his heat! (Chase is good at everything, honestly-everything)

26 weeks, the 27 week picture will come with the 28 weeks this weekend :)

These are the flowers for her hair! Chase says he won't allow me to put these flowers as big as her head on when she first gets here...We will wait until he leaves in the morning mahahahaha

Just got this jumper for her..It's so cute and tiny I had to share..matching booties coming soon :))))

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter!! We love you all!

Sin City

My family called Chase and I last Friday and asked if we would like to go to Las Vegas with them to see my aunt and uncle, of course we said yes! My uncle actually lives in a really nice country club in Henderson (just outside of Vegas itself) so we enjoyed the warm weather all we could! My uncle is remarried to my wonderful aunt Carrie who has a five year old daughter Katherine Grace! Cat is in LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE with Chase, did I mention she like really loves him haha We haven't seen them in almost a year and in that time frame she made several presents for Chase, not me, just Chase. Anytime someone would try to pick her up to give her a shoulder ride she would ask them to take her to Chase so he could hold her, needless to saw she wouldn't leave Chase's side even for a minute. She even slept right next to our bed haha We took Chase down on the strip of Las Vegas and walked around way to long! Everyone was was exhausted. Cat and I could barley walk but who do you think got to be held by Chase more than half the day? Yupp Cat, she wouldn't let go from around Chases neck! I must say I was a bit jealous but I loved seeing how much that little girl loves him. I have a feeling Gracie will be the same way with her Daddy. We got up Monday to come home and we left at around 5 a.m. so we didn't get the chance to say goodbye to Cat; when she woke up thirty minutes later realizing we were gone she ran into her mom's room sobbing asking if Chase and I left. I felt horrible but lucky for us she is coming to see us in a few weeks :)

School is almost over and we are getting ready to come to Tennessee! I am having a baby shower on April 12 and can't wait to see all the cute stuff Gracie is going to get! We are happy and healthy here! Just the way we like it!

p.s. People can actually tell I'm pregnant now. In the last two weeks my stomach has gotten HUGE! It's about time too we are already six and half months pregnant!

best. pie.ever

6 months!

25 weeks!

Apparently Buddha and I have the same tummy :/

The fam (minus mom who is taking the pic)

The picture below is taken from that bridge! It was a far drop!

Hoover Dam from the Bridge! We were really high up there

One side of the bridge is in Nevada and the other in Arizona