Lots to do and see

We had some photos of Zaiya at a month old- the soonest we could get into a photographer for newborn photos. We got some pretty sweet ones of her, but not too many did we get with her eyes closed since she wasn't very 'newborn' even when she was born. She's doing well- healthy and happy and full of personality we are finding!

After we had these photos, I went home for two weeks because no one in my family has met Zaiya except for mom. So, these are some photos of meeting her aunts and uncles and Grandpa Doug. 

 Dustin found her a truck set :) And he was demonstrating the proper way to drive truck!

She loves her Uncle Tony

I love this photo. Grandpa and Zaiya were taking a nap and woke up at the click of the camera.

Zaiya getting her first lesson in making bread.

Aunt Lynae and Uncle Taylor meet her. 

Whiski babysitting

Warm and beautiful

Today is 60 degrees!! I can't believe it. Zaiya and I went for a walk today and when we returned took a look at my flower beds. What a nice surprise to find 2 in tall flowers coming up. I think its hyacinths but could also be tulips. I do not plant very systematically!
We also spent some time in the seeing room. She's loving textiles already *yes!* and then I made this little skirt. Turned out lovely, although titch too small for my baby but just in time for some baby presents for a little girls arrival.

Quick love note

7 weeks ago today we welcomed this little monkey! In reality its hard to look back on life before her since we have just goggled over how adorable she is in life, how angelic she is in sleep and even how cute her crying is. Yes we are weird parents! But its true. Her cry is this whimper cry that makes me smile and then I feel like a hero when I pick her up, she cozies into my arms and her cry becomes a whimper-but-all-is-well-because-mommy-has-me.

Today is a blizzard here on the prairie. Daddy is stranded at home, happily! And we are happy too. Check out these morning smiles! She just makes my day!

Sweet of sweets

Sweet smiles, sweet yawns, sweet coo's, little sweet toes. Its so fun to see her change daily!

Welcome Our Zaiya Rose

On January 11th our little darling, Zaiya Rose (pronounced Zay-yuh) arrived and we have been completely sotted with love for this little bundle. She was 8lbs 14oz and 21 inches long.... nearly 2 lbs bigger than what the Dr. guesstimated! I was not at all surprised considering every pound of that 38 lb weight gain was all belly! She is the spitting image of her dad here at 4 hours old.

Labor was a long trial. I was admitted 10 days after my due date at nearly 42 weeks and after several tests, found that her heartbeat kept dropping when I had contractions. I didn't know I was having them. 25 hours later trying to do natural delivery, they had to do a C-section. I have recovered nicely. The good news is she is perfectly healthy and we are so thankful and lucky to have her.

Grandma Mary came and stayed with us for 8 days. She had many "visits" such as this one above with little Zaiya, and she turned to grandma's voice constantly. It was so adorable! I can't imagine how much she will tune in to Grandpa Doug with his stories!! I cried and cried when mom left because I was sure I couldn't do this without her! But, I was proven wrong because I have a wonderful husband!! She has her daddy wrapped around her finger and she doesn't even know it!! It is so sweet to watch. 

She loves listening to her daddy, often scowling and smiling at him intermittently, but still he is the one she settles down with just like he did before she was born. She was a busy one and would not stop kicking until he put his hand on my tummy. Worked every time then and is working with her now!

                 

A week old here!! It is shocking to see my own eyes stare out at me from a sweet little face. Her mouth is also becoming mine, but the rest of her- nose, chin, ears, forehead and even her hair is completely her daddy.

This is a classic photo of her sleeping all the time. She whimpers and cries like a little puppy and then she will grin and smile, all while in her sleep. Last night she coo'd at me for the first time at two weeks old! This mama was so proud! I don't think she knew it because she is a serious little soldier with a little scowl constantly observing and studying things out, but nonetheless!

40 weeks and counting

Well we are a day past our due date today. Dr says we are no where near ready either... not even engaged

Apparently my preferred method of nesting is quilting and sewing. I've ignored my house completely thus far except this morning it suddenly became paramount to organize under the bathroom sink and also the platters, pots, kettles, and lids in the kitchen! This has never concerned me before.....

We have the car seat ready, the baby bag packed and my bag is at hand ready to grab. Hopefully we have a good heads up and no false labor for the 85 mile drive to the hospital!

But.... oh my. We are so ready.

This waiting part must be a good way for me to understand a very tiny glimpse of what eternity is like!

just a couple more weeks!

A couple shots from a really cold, windy photo shoot. I'm 36 weeks here. I'm doing well, baby is well, we're getting more excited to meet this little monkey. Currently at 37 weeks and we are propping feet up in the pools at Hot Springs in Butte with mom, dad and Jewel. 

Blogging is frustrating.....Waiting is getting more frustrating

I am the lamest blogger on earth! Partly because I do not find blogspot very user friendly at all. And I say that tougne-in-cheek because it is probably ME that doesn't know what I'm doing and the website is perfectly fine. However, it super bad bothers me about cute photos for the header not going alllllll the way across the top, and I cannot get my blog title to center at all, and I have about a 12 minute span of fiddling with it all before I give up.

Combine that with our internet that is through Verizon (never ever a good idea but the only internet available to us) which has very bad cell service, uploading photos is a real trial. I know if I googled how to change settings on blogs, all would go nicely, however, when it takes 45 minutes to download a simple 4 minute YouTube video???

Yeah. Enough Said.

I prefer that people still believe I'm a patient, loving, amiable, and sweet person. (HA!) Which is why I only see you probably once a year and I've had good time to prepare myself for "being on best behavior at all times." :) More likely it is because you are the one that is patient, loving, amiable, and sweet and I'm trying to emulate you and take mental notes of how you are always that way.... because well, I fall extremely short in all areas.

Consequently I blog when I feel that too much time has passed or an important event has happened, or maybe I've had enough spiked hot chocolate to counteract the possible effects. Just kidding. This one takes in all three, minus the spike.

I'm getting SO fat! This baby is 36 weeks along on Wednesday and everyday I feel heavier, walk even more like a duck, have lots and lots of nice heartburn, and feel slightly waspish. I also am on my 3rd Doctor with this child and likely will change again. My one Dr. died last week of a sudden heart attack, and his wife who is also my Dr. will be out for at least 3 months. I don't have three months. So, I have another Dr. who is trying to substitute the practice of 4 Dr's, now down to 2 and still deliver about 60 babies per month as well as find other interim Dr's. It is not likely I will see him again except luck of the draw. It is a shame, because #3 Dr. is awesome. I'm beginning to believe it would be easier to go back to Kalispell! But I will not do this without my husband. I need him and time is closing in.

We do get to go meet my family for Christmas in Fairmont for a week which I'm grateful to have a healthy body, a healthy baby who has dropped (but no concerns of delivering before January 3rd due date) and given the go-ahead to travel. Dr. #3 also says baby will be  healthy 8ish lbs, not the 10 lbs I've been led to believe. How does one spell relief......! I will be 38 weeks when we return after Christmas, so I hope this kid holds on until then. No Christmas baby please! I am all belly- it is funny to see reactions in the store when I turn side view to them. It's an eye-popping experience. For them. And people do not talk to me anymore. They talk to the belly even though we're having an adult conversation. This is probably just par for the course of what's to come. "Oh! You are ____ mom!" all the while never looking at me and they tickle the baby cheeks and feet.

I got some photos for my 35 weeks, and hopefully some more this weekend with husband.

And just kidding. You don't get any photos because I have no more storage on blogspot. And I am about 'freebies'. And I am not able to transfer to another provider unless I have fast internet.

.....

I know.

I'm sad with you too.

:)

A Shoot Out

Several weeks ago, I attended a photo shoot out in the Black Hills of SD. It is impressively gorgeous in the fall and one of the very few places within a 3 hour drive that has the presence and comfort of mountains and pine trees. Oh the joy!! I drank it all in. Literally. It was so awesome.

I learned a lot. For anyone who has an interest in cameras and improving photos, I would recommend The BlackHills Photo Shoot Out for a cost effective and well rounded seminar. I was totally lost most of the time, but everyone feels that way who isn't a pro. The pros that are there, well they love to teach and don't make you feel stupid. They love their art and can't talk enough about it. It was a great experience. It's Friday- Sunday with two classes each being on Saturday and Sunday for about $175.

These photos were taken in a Macro Class and a Waterfall Class.

Fall

My belly is steadily growing and "proceeds me" everywhere. I guess it's time to get used to the idea that this little monkey, whoever he or she is will be the star of the show here soon. So, we decided that before it gets too uncomfortable to travel we would go home for a few days. And yes. It's getting pretty uncomfortable to travel 720 miles each way in under five days.... oh the surprises yet in store.....

Ahhh HOME!! Nothing like it. I wanted to crawl into 'it' and never come out again. I cannot explain how immediately I calm down when I see the mountains, trees, running water!! It is my element, and hubby is not at all against it either. It was lovely to get a last before baby visit home and soak up the last of summer.

 Whitefish. Mom and I went shopping for a little bit, but mostly I wanted a crepe. Amazing Crepes in Whitefish is sooo soo yum! I thought it perfect that a dog came downtown and went to sleep under his owners chair. Such a sweetheart. Another love was finding this mosaic bistro set in front of a shop. I wish I knew how to do this because I have a really big table that needs it.

Dad has a guy breaking some colts from the many horses we have accumulated. He had halter broke this 7 month old a couple days before. Breaking it to load was another matter and one that took effort and considerable messing with. When the door could shut, everyone jumped to make sure it stayed shut!

 Last of the waterski. And probably the last of fishing in t-shirts. It was a perfect day, very smoky from all the fires, but perfect.

As one of my aunts said while watching us on the motorbike:

"Doug did not have daughters. He had 4 boys. Three, came with high heels."