And The Winner Is............

Whitley!! I'm still in shock that we won the contest! I never win anything!! Ok I guess it was more Whitley that won but what is she gonna do with the $500?? Thanks to everyone that took the time to vote for her and help us win!

Please VOTE for Whitley!!

I entered Whitley in a Halloween costume contest with my favorite photographer Kristi Sheriff. If Whitley gets the most votes I get $500!! So if you could please help me out and go to http://spgx.typepad.com and at the top of the page there is a link that says VOTE HERE, click on that and take the survey and vote for Whitley! (she is #5). You can even have up to 7 kids vote under your email if they don't have their own! I would really appreciate it!! THANKS!!

Whitley Laughing

This was taken back in August I think but it is so funny I had to post it! So one night we were just sitting on our trampoline and decided to try jumping to see if Whitley liked it. Well she LOVED it! Watch her funny response here. Sorry it is sideways Chantz was the one filming it :)

5 Months Old!

Whitley is 5 months old today! I can't believe how fast it has gone! I look at her and she seems like such a big kid now, and not my little 5 lb baby anymore! Well I have been really bad at posting and the last time I posted was 2 months ago so a lot has happened since then! For a quick update on Whitley, at her 4 month appointment she weighed 12 lbs 3 oz and was 23 inches long. She is up to the 19th percentile in weight! We started her on rice cereal (pic below) and she is a great eater! She now has also eaten bananas, applesauce, pears and sweet potatoes. We had the video camera out and everything for those classic disgusted faces but she just dug right in and hasn't stopped since! Some other interesting facts about Whitley Maye are:
-She is rolling over both directions from her stomach
-She LOVES my cells phone and will stare at it for ever!
-She is getting very good at using her hands and picking up stuff and sticking everything in her mouth.
-She is still through and through a Daddy's girl!
-She has been sleeping through the night for 3 months now!
-She loves watching movies, not her baby movies, our big people movies and our tv shows.
-She talks herself to sleep (it's so cute listening to her outside her door)
-Her favorite thing is to sit in her bumbo. Especially on the counter when we are eating cuz we think she feels like she is a big person too. She will even just sit in her bumbo while I teach violin lessons and not even make a peep! (Oh ya I started teaching violin lessons again)

The last weekend in September we all went to Colorado to visit my family because my twin brothers just got off their missions. It was her first big road trip and she did great. Well we drove through the night so she just slept. But it was so fun to go to Colorado with her! We did some really good outlet shopping, went to an amazing Italian restaurant, and just have fun with my family. The picture below is of my Dad's parents. This was their first time meeting Whitley and Whitley's first time meeting her Great Grammie Jo and Papa Bear!

So Whitley is a really great baby! She is always happy and smiling, except for when she lets her sassy little attitude out! Anyway, she is always smiling but as soon as the camera gets in front of her face she just stares at it, so these are the only smiles I have been able to catch on camera! I guess we will need to do some more camera training with this girl!

Other than just staying busy with the in's and out's of every day life, there is not much else going on here. I am loving fall and all the smells, and food and decorations that come with it, but the multiple days of snow we have had already I'm not exactly loving yet. Well I'll try to be better with updating the blog with all the fun holidays coming up!

Make it and love it!

One of my favorite craft blogs is giving away a free photoshoot with an awesome photographer so if I post it on my blog I get a chamce of winning it. So check out makeitandloveit.blogspot.com!

Whitley's First's

Whitley turned 3 months old last week and I have been way bad at updating the blog so here are a bunch of Whitley's "First's" from the summer!

1st parade (that she slept through) and 1st 4th of July!

1st time to the Spud Drive In

1st time to palisades lake. We just stayed on the shore but this is how we kept the mosquitos away.

1st time to snow shack for snow cones!
1st time pickin' huckleberries

1st time in her kiddie pool (which she didnt love at first)

1st time in her bumbo (which she loves!)

1st time in the boat at palisades!

1st time meeting a kitty!

1st time to Utah for my best friend's wedding!

1st glowsticks at the wedding (which she didn't care about cuz she was sick of wedding stuff by the end of the night.)

And just some cute pic's of my little miss

We have had a really fun summer going to the lake, having cookout's, my family coming to visit 4 times, going to Logan, Ut and just enjoying the sun! I can't believe the summer is already over! and I can't believe Whitley is 3 months ( or 14 weeks yesterday) already! She is getting so fun now that she is smiling and laughing and talking all the time. She has afunny little personality and it's been so fun getting to see more and more of it everyday! I love my little Whitley Maye! :)

Whitley's Blessing Weekend

On Wednesday my family came up from Colorado for Whitley's blessing this weekend. We had so much fun! The last time they visited Whitley was still pretty little and it rained the whole time so we weren't able to do very much but this time we got to do a lot more! We went horseback riding and took the boat out on the lake. We even had a girls day where we all got our hair cut and did some shopping! Then Whitley was given a blessing by her daddy and we had a huge luncheon afterwards with all the Calderwood's and other family and friends! It was such a fun week and I loved having my family here and I miss them already!

Bayley and I with our new haircuts!

My family after the horseride

and Whitley with her pony :)

This is Whitley's 5 generations picture! There is Whitley, her dad Chantz, Chantz's dad Clint, Clint's mom Joan, and Joan's mom Virigina. Yes, Whitley has a great great grandmda!

And I think this is how Whitley felt after a long day of being in that huge dress (which was made by my mom and it was so beautiful! Thanks mom!)

5 Weeks Old!

Yesterday Whitley turned 5 weeks old! I can't believe it's already been 5 weeks. I'll be honest it's been fast looking back now, but at the beginning each day just dragged on. The first two weeks were way more overwhelming and exhausting than I ever could have imagined. I'm sure my experience has been a little more difficult since she is so little. The first week we brought her home when she was 4 days old I struggled a lot because in the NICU she was only taking bottle because, like I explained in my last post, nursing just wore her out too much. So they just had me pumping my colostrum and then feeding that to her in a bottle and giving her formula to top it off. So of course she got used to the way more easy eating known as the bottle. They did have me nurse last couple feedings she was in the NICU but she was not very good at it, it took forever and we still would supplement with my milk in a bottle afterwards. So anyway when we brought her home I was just nursing her and all she did was cry for days! I would try and nurse and she would get so frustrated she even if it was right in her mouth she would just keep screaming. I also cried many of these feedings :) No one ever told me that nursing can be a difficult learning experience. So eventually I gave up and just pumped her a bottle and she was the best baby in the world! So since that day I have just been nursing first for about 30-40 min and then I still have to give her a bottle which is quite tedious but has totally made my life so much more enjoyable and this whole motherhood thing a lot more do able. We figured I was just starving her because she still has a hard time getting milk from me. I'm not sure if she is just lazy because she is used to a bottle or it really does just wear her out. But I know I have tons of milk because I'm just filling bottles like no one's business! Oh and everyone said engorgement hurt but holy cow I didn't see that one coming either. I looked in the mirror and I felt like Pamela Anderson but obviously didn't want anything near them! :) Of course they went down but that was quite the experience in itself. But anyway, it seems like everyday just gets better and better and I'm constantly feeling more confident in this motherhood thing. Those first couple of weeks I really didn't think I could handle do this and I didn't want my mom to leave and man those hormones really take a toll on ya but I'm feeling good now, not in my fat jeans anymore and I'm actually under my pre pregnancy weight (thanks to nursing and being more hungry than I was when I was pregnant!) Anyways, now that she if getting her belly full everytime she really is a great baby! She is to the dot on her time schedule which she eats every 3 hours during the day and at night will sleep from 10:30-4:30 and then 5:30-8:30 or 9 which is not a lot yet but still way better than just 2 hours of sleep! And she is also really good about falling asleep. When I know she is full but she is still awake I can just stick her in her cradle and she will fall asleep on her own! She is also a strong little thing, she has been able to hold up her head really good and turn it from side to side while on her tummy from the time we brought her home! She really is getting so fun now that she is staying awake longer and we are seeing more of her feisty little personality! Although she really is a good, content baby, she will let you know when she wants something and won't let up until she gets it! She is funny, if she isn't sitting just how she likes when she nurses she throws a little fit until she is perfectly in her little position. I'm sure she is going to be an even bigger handful when she starts talking, or becomes a teenager :) Oh and a quick weight update. So like normal she lost 2 ounces at birth but a week later she was back to her birth weight of 5lbs 5 oz. Then at 2 weeks old she had gained a whole lb! (probably another reason why she was starving, she was going through a huge growth spurt!) We went back at a month and she was 6 lbs 11 oz. So she is still pretty little but gaining weight at a normal rate. I can't wait until we can get her out of her 5 premie outfits and into the tons of cute clothes that are just a little bigger! Well there is the update, sorry it's a little long but I just thought I'd share a couple of the things I have learned along the way of this crazy adventure!

Here is Whitley with her dad and me at 12 days old!

Here she is trying out her boucer seat at 2 weeks and 4 days old.

Here is my other baby girl! Little miss Brandi is out of her barn and out with all of the other horses. We though we would introduce Whitley to her pony she'll be riding soon :) She is 2 weeks and 5 days old here.

Here the little miss is enjoying her tummy time and boppy at 3 weeks old!

And Lastly this is the beautiful cradle my dad made for me! I LOVE it!! He spent a lot time and effort on this thing and I am so grateful for it!! Especially in the middle of the night when I can just rock it from my bed to keep her asleep just a little longer :). My mom also made those cute little bumpers in it! I have the most talented parents ever!! I love you guys!

Baby Photo Shoot

Today we had Whitley's newborn pictures taken with the amazing Kristi Sheriff! She posted these on facebook by the time I had gotten home which was so fun to see a couple already! I'm so excited to see the rest of them. So during the photo shoot Chantz got pooped on and I got peed on twice, but it's all in the naked experience right! :) and today Whitley is 10 days old! Well better get back to my life of being a milk cow! :)

Whitley Maye Calderwood

Our little girl finally arrived! So the dr decided to induce me early so we went in on monday the 11th and they put a chord with some chemical on around around my cervix to help me to start dilating since I hadn't yet. It was a long night! I'm pretty sure I had back labor all night so I was just way uncomfortable especially being hooked up to tons of chords and being in a hospital bed. So finally the dr came in at 7:30 and checked me and broke my water. I was only 2cm so they said it would probably be a while and they would be back in to put me on pitocin. About 2 min later I went into full on labor. My contractions were minutes apart and coming stronger and faster! I pretty much thought I was gonna die especially since I wasn't even able to build up to the contractions. So I asked for an epidural since they told me I was still hours away, there was no way I would have last hours with those kind of contractions. So by the time I had my water broken and gotten the epidural and had it set in, since it took about 10 min to kick in on my right side which was still just as bad because I was still feeling all the contractions and especially in my back. Anyway it was about an hour from the water breakage to getting the epidural so they checked me and I was to a 9! I had went through pretty much all my labor without even knowing it. She was coming but the dr was delivering another baby so we had to sit and wait but with the magical epidural I didn't even care! I think I even feel asleep. So finally the dr came in, I pushed for about 15 min and she slid out! She was born at 9:45, 5 lbs, 5 oz and 18 inches.

Here she is in the NICU. She was so small and everytime she tried to nurse she would get so worn out that she wasn't really eating so her blood sugar dropped way low so they had to put her on an IV. So she was in the NICU from tuesday and we got to bring her home on saturday. It just took her a couple of days to figure out how to eat better but she in doing so good now and it seems like I'm always feeding! Well I should probably go take a nap since I obviously am not sleeping anymore. I'll try to get some more recent pictures up soon!

The End Is Near!

Alright I am getting down to the wire now! This picture is at 38 and 1/2 weeks pregnant and only 10 days to go! I have still been going in to the doctor everyweek for my weekly ultrasound where they measure her and whatnot. This week she was 5 lbs 2 oz, that was on wednesday. They had me come in again on friday, I guess to just keep an even closer look and she was 5 lbs 6 oz so she is growing pretty good, to my knowledge. But then the dr comes in and say's they want to induce me either monday or tuesday just to make sure she doesn't stop growing. See to me I would think since she has never stopped yet that they would just leave her in as long as she wants so she can get bigger, but I guess I'm just not as smart as the Dr's :). So I have kind of been on a constant panic attack this weekend thinking I atleast still had a week (which really isn't long either) because I still have a bunch of stuff to do. #1 The nursery is not done, but atleast she will be able to stay with us in our room. #2 We have been finishing our basement so EVERYTHING in my house has a layer of dust/paint dust and I really wanted to do a good thorough cleaning job because I didn't want her to come home with dust everywhere, I doubt that is very good. Anyway there is obviously a million things I still feel I need to do but I think that is just life. I guess I just never pictured being induced and that is scarier to me than going into labor on my own, for some reason. So if anyone has any good advice for me let me know because I am needing it!

In all the hussle and bussle I was able to do some fun things. Here is a nursing cover and matching boppy cover that I made. I saw both of these on blogs (of course) and wanted to make them! I also made a car seat cover but I still haven't gotten the car seat out. See how far behind I am!! I am gonna be the worst mom ever!! Now I know why people say you are never ready for a baby :) Well anyway I go in tomorrow (monday) morning to see if they need to admit me overnight or just come in tuesday morning to be induced. I would only need to stay overnight if I havn't started dialating yet. I have been having contractions so I'm praying I have started dilating because I really don't want to sleep in the hospital for my last night as a free person! :) Well, I'll keep everyone updated and wish me luck!

Maternity Pic!

Yesterday I was able to take some maternity pictures with the photographer who did my wedding. Her name is Kristi Sheriff and she is amazing! (obviously!) Anyway she tagged this one on facebook so this is the only one I have seen but there will be more to come! I'm 37 and 1/2 weeks along so I am definitely counting down the days now!!

Belly's, Baby Showers and Bunnies!

Alright I know I have been so bad about posting and I'm way behind so here is pretty much the last month of happenings. On March 20th my mom and 2 sisters threw me a baby shower in Colorado! It was SO fun! They did a great job! The food was great, the games were fun and everything was decorated so cute! And I got totally spoiled I am pretty much set for cute baby clothes! Thanks to everyone who came! And it was just so fun to be back in Colorado for the weekend and see family and friends that I haven't seen in a long time!( I'm about 31 weeks in these pictures!)


























After my fun shower my whole family (exluding my dad because he had to work) drove me back to Driggs and spent the week with me for their spring break! We had a blast! We went sledding, skiing, and snowmobiling! and yes I also participated in all of those activites ( just don't tell my doctor :) ) This picture is at our favorite restaurant in Rexburg, Craigos! This is really Bayley's favorite because she loves the cookie monster! (a huge cookie with ice cream and whipped cream and chocolate and caramel sauce) This same day was also my 32 week or 8 months appt. At this particular appointment they measured my belly as usual but the growth hadn't changed from the previous month. So we got to do an ultrasound, which was kind of fun for my family to see! Luckily nothing was really wrong, she is just measuring a little smaller than they would like. If I remember correctly she was 3 lbs 11 ounces. Her head was only measuring a week behind but her abdomen was measuring 3 weeks behind meaning that the placenta may be what is failing. So of course to "calm" my apprehensions they just told me they would deliver me early if she stopped growing. Even though the thought of not being pregnant sounds good a 3 lb baby does not, so we are going to try and get a couple more lbs on her before she is aloud to come out :)

Here is Me at 34 weeks or 8 1/2 months along. I can't believe I have been pregnant this long!Looking back it has gone so fast now and I can't believe I'm so close to being done! I have still been going in every week for ultrasounds and things are still looking fine. She is now 4 lbs and still growing which is really all they are watching.

Here is Chantz and I on Easter day! The first picture was taken at about 6:30 in the morning. Chantz's family gets pretty intense about their holidays and so since we have church at 9 we had to have the Easter Egg hunt extra early this year! Chantz hit the jackpot finding egg's with $20,$10 and $5! I'm not as competitive so I think I found a $5 one and after that I layed down and watched his siblings fight over finding the rest of the eggs. The Easter bunny also visited our house, which is the 2nd picture. I love holidays and celebrating them with my husband!

This last weekend on April 17th my mother in law threw me a baby shower! I know, could I be any more spoiled!? She did a great job and we had a great turn out! Thanks to those who all came out and found the place :) Again I got loaded up with really cute stuff! One of the really cute things I got are in the pic that I couldn't figure out how to turn right side up, but they are cute little cowgirl boots! I can't wait to make our little girl a cowgirl!! Then I had to get some pictures with my great friends that came all the way out to teton valley to support me! Thanks girls!! (I am 35 weeks here, sorry if you don't care to know that I am just putting that on these pictures more for me so I remember how far along I was during all these happenings :) )