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!!!

Perfect Couple

Originally uploaded by crane.brittany

My apologies to all of the women in the world who can not be married to my husband. 🙂 He is everything I’ve ever wanted or needed in a man.

Ben and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary last week. I can’t believe that it has already been one year, yet at the same time I can’t remember life not being married.

This past year so much has happened. We’ve lived in Provo, Riverton, Rexburg, and Springville. We’ve both graduated from college, gotten pregnant, and started a career. We’ve taken some great trips like: Aspen, Moab (twice), Yellowstone, and of course our trip across the country.

For our anniversary Ben took me into Washington DC where we went to the most elaborate and expensive restaurant we have ever been to. We felt so out of place it was funny. We could barely understand our waiter and when our food came we really didn’t know what we were eating. The food looked beautiful and like it came out of a magazine! After we ate we walked around the District for a while and then went to the movie Get Smart. (I haven’t laughed as hard as I did in that movie in a long time.) It was the perfect evening and Ben spoiled me.

I absolutely love being married and can’t imagine my life without Ben. Everyone said that I would love him more as time went on, but when we got married I couldn’t imagine loving him more than I already did. They were right I love him so much more! He is my best friend and eternity just keeps looking better and better.

Our trip ended up being so much fun. Long, but worthwhile. All except for Kansas that is! We ended up going through 11 states: Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia. 

Colorado’s landscape is beautiful, but as we drove over and through the mountains we were grateful we were in our car and not a Uhaul truck. Kansas pretty much sucks. It seemed to never end and the whole thing was flat! Plus the high temperature, humidity, and tornado warnings added to our dislike of the state. Did I mention we hate Kansas. haha

Missouri was a little better than Kansas. However, the heat and humidity were still a factor. We stayed one night in the city Hannibal, which is the home town of Mark Twain. We were able to see a lot of stuff that he wrote about in his books which was neat.  We also stayed that night in an awful hotel. I was tired and ornery so Ben pulled up to the first hotel off of the freeway. It was TERRIBLE! As Ben got out of the car he was like oh there’s a dead mouse or bird.  I knew that was another bad sign-on top of the looks of the place. As we walked into the hallway, it wreaked of smoke.  Next as we tried to open our door it wouldn’t open so Ben went back to the manager and came back a few minutes later with the solution. Then as we entered the room we were put off again by the awful smells. Ben continued to unpack the car, making sure to get everything so as not to attract thieves, and I cried.  Being pregnant really brings out the emotional side! Needless to say we learned our lesson and stayed in nicer places the rest of the trip.

Missouri also has a city called Independence which holds a lot of significance to LDS members. It is the place where the Garden of Eden was, it was also were the new Jerusalem will be built, and it is where the early saints were driven out due to conficts with the locals. There is no LDS temple there, but there is a lot that Joseph Smith did in fact dedicate for a future temple.  The Church does not own the Temple lot at this point in time, but we do have a Visitor Center.  Ben and I were able to take a Church History tour with one of their sister missionaries. (Yeah for VC sisters!!!) My heart was truly touched as she told us of the hard times and the persecution that the Saints had to go through. The Saints were told that Independence would be Zion and I can’t help but think of how the Lord taught them a very valuable lesson during their stay.  Zion is not a specific location.  I’m guessing that when the Saints heard Joseph say that Independence would be Zion they thought they would settle there for good and be safe from persecution. Instead the Lord taught them, refined them, and continued them on their way out west. 

We were also able to visit Liberty Jail and see the awful circumstances the Prophet and 4 others endured for several months. The Prophet later said that it was like a Temple because of the revelations he received while imprisoned there.

While in Illinois we went to the Nauvoo temple.  Nauvoo is a tiny town and the Temple stands out beautifully. We were able to go through the Temple while we were there and can I just say I love Temple workers! One sister saw my big ol’ belly and said “oh, when’s your little pumpkin due?” After Ben and I looked at each other and said, “that was new”. That same day we visited Carthage Jail and had another spiritual experience. We took a tour and learned so much! For example, the prophet was not in the actual jail cell that all prisoners were supposed to stay in. The family who lived in the jail let Joseph and the others stay in their master bedroom upstairs. They also had them down for dinner at least once. (not a typical procedure for prisoners I’m sure.) 

Next we were off to Chicago. We stayed the night with Ben’s cousins Daniel and Heidi. They are incredible people and it was so great to get to visit with them even if it was only for a night. They have two little boys and a brand new baby girl. As Ben and I held their baby we were again given another reality check. WE ARE HAVING A BABY!! Anyway, the next day we got to meet up with one of my best friends Jill and her husband Greg. They were great tour guides and we had a blast walking around Chicago. We acted like we were going to eat at a super fancy restaurant on the 96th floor of a building so we could see the Chicago skyline without paying the hefty price. I’m a complete nerd because the whole time I was afraid they were going to discover our little plot and kick us out. Good thing they didn’t! Thanks Jill and Greg for taking the time out of your busy day and showing us around. We can’t wait until we can return the favor when you come to DC!! (SOON)

Man this is long. If you are still reading you are either a trooper or my mom. haha  Next, came the Football Hall of Fame which just happened to close 8 minutes before we got there. Ben cried! We did, however, get to see Notre Dame’s campus and famous football stadium. Our last stop was at the Kirtland Temple in Ohio.  The Community of Christ owns the Temple and their staff takes people on tours. Ben and I were the only ones in our tour and we got to ask all the questions we wanted. The Temple still has a spirit about it, and it was really neat to experience. We were so glad we stopped to see it. Again another testimony builder. 

We rolled into Virginia late Saturday night and were welcomed by Ben’s second cousins.  They have been amazing and are some of the nicest people we have ever met.  What a blessing family is! And that my friends is our road trip across the country.