This was an eventful weekend. It involved the new Pentagon Memorial, the Capital building, a ride on the Metro and Hallie’s one month birthday!

Funny story~ Hallie had to be nursed at both the Capital building and on the Metro. I guess I’m not such a private person anymore. 🙂

Here are a bunch of fun pictures of Hallie.

Here is my big one month old!!

She looked sooo cute in her little summer dress.

Dad having a little fun making Hallie look like a Nun.

Our trip to the Capitol Building. This is where all the Presidents are inaugurated.

The new Pentagon Memorial for Sept 11th.

Hallie’s first trip on the Metro.

Hallie the peanut. (swaddled ready for bed)

Sleeping to the sweet sounds of the dryer.

Bath time!! She’s such a little smurf.

Hallie’s Doctor Visit

Originally uploaded by crane.brittany

I think this may be my favorite picture of Hallie so far. I can’t get enough of her!!

I know it’s been awhile~ being a mom consumes my every moment. Here is a little clip of Hallie and Ben that we took last week.

Here is my little Hallie Marie. She was born Wednesday August 13th at 3:30am at a birthing center in Alexandria Virginia. She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and measured in at 20.75 inches. She has a little bit of strawberry blond hair and two birth marks on the back of her head.

I started having contractions Tuesday morning but they stayed 10 minutes apart for the majority of the day. I went about doing normal things and had an average day. The midwife came to my apartment around 7 pm and checked me. I was only dilated to a two and was told to relax because it could be awhile. Ben and I popped in a movie and by the end I was curling over in pain. We ended up going into the birthing center just before 1 am. My midwife and birthing assistant met us there and my contractions were now within minutes of each other. My labor progressed very fast after that. Hallie was born only three hours later. Labor was the most painful thing I have EVER experienced but God blesses moms by erasing the most painful memories. It was only two days later that my memory of the pain was vague.

Hallie is now a week old and we can’t stare at her enough! She makes the funniest faces and does the silliest things with her hands. The only complaint I have is her sleeping habits. She seems to think day is night and night is day. She also loves to sleep right next to Ben and I. (Usually on our bellies) I have come to find out that I too have to follow her sleeping habits if I am going to stay sane. Little naps, nursing, and changing diapers has taken over my life. Yesterday was my birthday and the best birthday I have ever had. I have the best husband who is already an amazing father and a beautiful little girl who I can’t wait to see grow up.

It’s been awhile since I posted the latest about my pregnancy. I am 39 weeks pregnant and officially due next Monday, August 11th. However my little angel gets to decide when she wants her birthday to be and I’m hoping it will be sooner than later.

Something that is worth mentioning is the fact that Ben and I decided to not have Hallie born in a hospital. Anyone who has talked to me throughout my pregnancy knows this was the last thing I planned on doing. I always said I would welcome the drugs to ease the pain. However, after taking a Lamaze class and going on a hospital tour Ben and I both didn’t feel right about it. We checked into a birthing center that is covered by our insurance and amazingly they made room for me although I am so close to my due date. When I went and visited the birth center I was amazed at how welcoming the midwives and staff treated me. They spent time really talking to me and they made me feel like a million bucks. Not to mention that fact that they made my labor and delivery sound like an event that could be a good experience and was meant to be a good experience.

The birth center is just a small little building in Alexandria, Virginia that doesn’t stand out from any of the surrounding buildings. They have two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a Jacuzzi all upstairs. During labor I will have Ben, a midwife, and a birth assistant who is also called a Doula. I will also be free to move around and change positions as much as I need and I can eat. I do not have the option of an epidural which scared me at first and to be honest it still does a little bit but I have faith that I can do it and I really feel like the birth center is the best place to deliver my baby. If any complications do arise I just go to the hospital and they have a doctor that is contracted with them.

All the midwives are amazing and oh so nice. My birth assistant is also great and even made a home visit the other day to meet Ben and I. One of the “different” things that go along with the birth center delivery is the fact that I go home about 3 hours after I have the baby. CRAZY! They also make home visits to check on us 2 and 3 days after-which is nice. So there you have it- a big decision late in the game.

On to more current news- today I went to yet another checkup and found out the following.

Hallie is healthy as can be with a very strong heart rate

She is descended and in great position

My belly grew an inch and a half this last week

I didn’t gain any weight

I am dilated to a one

My insurance will pay for my Doula

I also picked up a book called Active Labor by Janet Balaskas. It talks about being proactive during labor and not just sitting around waiting for something to happen. It is all about how natural child bearing is meant to be. I’m excited to read it and hopefully it will help when the big day comes.

I can’t believe it is only a matter of days until I’m a mom! I’m not sure if one could ever properly prepare for such a life changing event. I get more excited everyday and more aware that the little wiggle worm inside me is going to be mine forever.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you & I had together. It doesn’t matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.
2. Next, re-post this on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually pretty funny to see the responses.

Life is great!

 My friend Lindsie tagged me. So here goes…. 

                        Two names you go by:
                        1.  Britt
                        2.   B

 
                        Two things you are wearing right now:
                        1.   Flip Flops (the only thing that fits my feet anymore)
                        2.   Maternity shorts 

                        Two things you want very badly at the moment:
                        1.  To hold my little baby girl 
                        2.  To lie on my stomach
 
 
                        Two things you did last night:
                          1. Watched my new favorite show-WIPEOUT                           2. Cooked a really good chicken stirfry

                        Two things you ate Yesterday
                        1. Cherries (YUMM!)
                        2. Turkey Sandwich 
 
                         Two people you last talked to:
                        1. Ben
                        2. Mom
 
                        Two things you’re doing today (or did today?):
                        1. Went shopping at IKEA                                                                2.  I’m going to try a new recipe for dinner

                  
                        Two longest car rides: 
                        1.  DC   2.  Washington State
 
                         Two favorite beverages:
                           1. White Grape Juice
                           2. Water

Thanks Linds for thinking of me.

Originally uploaded by crane.brittany

This year we decided to celebrate the fourth of July in style. We headed down to the National Mall to see the famous firework show. We went with Ben’s cousins (who we had been living with) and it ended up being one fourth of July we will never forget. Carol spoiled us by packing at least three coolers full of food and treats. They also packed lots of games for us to play while we waited. Traffic is terrible down town because everyone and their dog goes to see the fireworks. Luckily Randal works for the USDA and got us a parking spot only a couple blocks away without any traffic. It was great!

After loading up what we termed “the mormon wagon” we headed down to the monuments. (The wagon ended up being like five feet tall because of everything that was piled on. We had everything; food, blankets, tarps, chairs, etc.) It was pretty funny because once we settled down in our spot people kept coming and asking if we had things that they could use.

So after waiting just over three hours, getting soaked by the rain three different times, taking several trips to the out houses, and eating lots of great food and playing games the fireworks finally started. They ended up being as great as every one had told us they would be. Especially the finale!

It was so great to be in our Nations Capitol and to remember the founding fathers who were so diligent in creating a free country. What a memorable fourth of July!! Thanks Randal and Carol for taking us!!!

This past week Ben’s mom, LaRae, flew into town and she hasn’t stopped spoiling me since. Tuesday morning we took a train into New York City where we stayed until Friday.  I have never seen so many people or buildings in my entire life! 

The night we got into New York we took a taxi to our Hotel and then bought tickets for the tour buses that take you around town. There honestly isn’t a better deal- for $50.00 we got an unlimited 48 hour pass for any of the tour bus routes.  We went everywhere!! Some of the highlights were the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square, Harlem, and Brooklyn.  We went shopping and I bought some killer (post pregnancy)brown boots for a bargain deal and a ball cap for Ben.  The most memorable part of the trip was going to the Broadway show Wicked.  LaRae has a friend who works in New York and hooked us up with the best seats in the house.  We were like giddy little girls, we were so excited.  The play was phenomenal. I have never seen anything like it and there are not words to express how much I enjoyed it. The tickets were worth all $250 dollars a piece! 

A funny aspect of the trip was the fact that I am eight months pregnant and very large. I think I saw maybe 4-5 other pregnant women in New York the entire trip. Every one stared at me. After a while I wanted to start waving at people or act like I was going into labor just to see their reactions.  I received several congratulations from people as I walked down the street and the best part was that I got to go to the front of all the bathroom lines.  Being pregnant in New York is definitely different than being pregnant in Utah that’s for sure! haha

The best part of the trip was being able to spend some time with LaRae. She is an incredible woman who has raised my incredible husband. She runs her own successful company called American Promotions as well as raises her two boys who are still at home. On top of that she supports her two missionaries who are presently serving in California and Africa, and is in the Relief Society presidency. And she does it all with a smile!  Thanks LaRae for a wonderful trip it was fabulous!!!