fun with the camera

Ben was wanting to try some cool stuff with the camera one night....I think they turned out great!

The Girls

Just some pics of this past week!
We got to go home from the hospital on Thursday evening. I am feeling great. This C-section has been a lot better, recovery wise, than last time. It still takes me a while to get places...I walk really slow...but I am not hunched over this time. Gabby is so cute! It is so easy to forget how small newborns can be. She is so small, and everything is so big compared to her. Even her clothes....none of them fit, they all swim on her, but it is so dang cute! Charley loves her baby sister, and has been so good at being gentle with her. She is such a big help around the house! Ben only has two days before he takes the Bar. He has been studying so hard. The girls have been quite a distraction, he always wants to be home with them, but he has done a good job of balancing study and play. ...it would be hard for me to stay away from them as well.

My mom and sister are here, and they have been a big help. They have been cooking, cleaning, and babysitting all week...and my mom sewing. And Charley loves having them around and having lots of attention.

Yo GabaGaba!!!....

She's here!!!....Gabriella Sofia Schramm
Born July 20, 2009 8:53am
7 lbs 6 oz, 20 inches long

Gabby is Beautiful!! After looking at old baby pics of Charley, they look like the exact same baby, except Gabby is a little rounder in the face....and it looks like Gabby's eyes will eventually turn brown, and not blue. I know I am a little bias, but Ben and I make some cute babies!

We got to the hospital yesterday at 6:30am for our scheduled c-section at 8:30am. I was really nervous, even though I knew what to expect. I think it would have been different if I were to have her naturally....the rush and excitement of going into labor, and not knowing exactly when she would come is a lot different then knowing and dwelling on what was going to happen to you. Plus, you have to add in my HUGE fear of needles and blood! Last time I was so freaked out that they had to knock me out b/c I was shaking so much and they couldn't sew me up. But this time I tried really hard to stay as calm as I could so I could see her right after she was born, and not 4 hours later. Ben and the doctors/nurses were great and tried to distract me the whole time by asking me questions and Ben had me listening to his headphones. Because she had already dropped, her head was in my pelvic bone, so they had to use forcepts on her, which made her bruse, and cause her face to swell a little more than usual. But the swelling has gone down a lot today, and you can really see her features. She is such a good baby, and Charley just loves her. My mom has been bringing her up, and she will tell all the nurses that Gabriella is her baby sister! Gabby has already gotten lots of love and kisses from her big sister!

They couldn't give her a real bath until today b/c they had to do lost of tests on her (they always have to do extra on c-section babies) so her hair is a little matted on all the pictures. But when they gave her one today, her hair looks darker and it even looks like she has more than we thought. I haven't downloaded pics from today, but here are some of her first day!

We are still at the hospital....I get 4 days here b/c of the surgery, but I can't wait to take our baby girl home.

Mom's are Great!

My mom has been here this past week helping me out....shopping for stuff, organizing, and sewing. I am still learning to sew, and am not very good, or very fast. But my mom is amazing! She has been going to work on my long list of stuff I want her to make for the baby and for my sister-in-law's wedding in August. Here is a pic of the first project she completed....a car seat cover! (the main part is a chocolate brown and cream/white color floral pattern, with pink poka dot accents! So cute!) Thanks Mom!
Monday is the big day....only 2 more days left! Lots to do!

Cutting it close....

Okay....so we have been super busy these past few weeks.....the move....then we drove to Maple Valley, Washington (just outside of Seattle) for a week. We stayed with Cousin Charlie and Susan for a few days then drove to Kennawick, WA for Tristan and Erin Alba's wedding....it was such a FUN trip....we'll have to go back soon....probably not too soon with the baby and all! And right before I left my computer crashed.....uuuggghhhh.....but good news....I took it in to the tech people today (it was a work computer) and they are giving me a new Mac!!! But I wont have it for another week or so. They are going to try and transfer my files from the old one to the new one! Oh happy day! But I have work meetings, a doctor apt., and trying to somewhat organize my house and buy all of our baby stuff in 2 weeks! Yep...I have exactly 2 weeks til the baby comes (unless she decides to come before hand....which i doubt) I am a little frantic right now, and so I think I am going to go MIA until things settle down a little....or at least until my mom gets here to help! Which means I will post pics of Washington later....it seriously was a fun trip, even with me big and prego!

And in case you were wondering....the baby will be born on July 20, 2009 at the Orem Community Hospital at 7:15 am (or maybe a little after....but c-sections go fast, and only take a few minutes, so maybe even 7:20!) No name yet, but I still have 14 days to decide.

~M

Kung Fu Dancing...

I know....3 posts in one day!!!...but this was so cute! We were playing at our friends house today, and Paka wanted to dance to his favorite song!...the theme song to "Kung Fu Panda". They actually danced around for a while, but my phone was running out a battery, so I only did one little clip, but it was super cute!

Karly Kim Photography

My sister-in-law took these cute pictures of Charley! Of course Charley looks adorable! Karly did such a good job! ....She does kids/family/engagement/weddings....if you mention my name she'll give you a discount! Check out her website www.karlykim.com for more pictures (I don't know how to link websites so you may have to type it in....I'll work on it and try and fix it!)!

The Big Move

This past weekend we made the move from Wymount to Lehi....we are officially not students anymore! I thought I was pretty much packed and decluttered when we got the truck on Saturday, but I was very wrong! Things just started coming out of the walls! The place we are in now is a lot bigger than Wymount.....and I am having a hard time finding places for things....we even have 2 storage rooms.... how do we have so much stuff?! I still want to get rid of more.

Ben and I have been married for almost 5 years, and in those 5 years, we haven't had a washer/dryer or a dishwasher....and now we do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh glorious day!!!!!!! We still haven't gotten a washer/dryer yet, we are still cleaning Wymount and unpacking here, and I haven't even started looking....so now it is just an empty room, but it will be filled soon! Here is a picture of our dishwasher!....isn't it beautiful! Have I ever mentioned how I HATE washing dishes...it has been so nice to just stick things in here!
Since I am 8 months prego, I really couldn't be of much help loading and unloading the truck. Ben and his brother, Calvin, loaded the huge truck and Carlos and Karly came up to Lehi after work to help unload!... And my sister Jordan watched Charley for the day, she took her to swimming class then out to lunch and watched her so I could finish packing and cleaning things around the apartment. We have the best family! We couldn't have done it with out them!....and they did it so fast! THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

Swimming Lessons

So a few weeks ago, Amy and I decided to sign the kids up for swimming lessons. However, since they are still 2, they weren't old enough for the pre-school class...we tried signing them up, but they wouldn't let us. So we singed them up for the parent/child class instead. Which I think was a good choice, I looked over at the pre-school class the first day and they were all screaming and hanging onto the side....Charley would have been trying to climb out! But it has been fun swimming with her. We wanted to sign the kids up to help them get used to the water....I want Charley to know how to swim because our new apartment has a pool, my parents have a pool, and Ben's parents have the beach....she'll need to learn.

We are moving this weekend...Friday to be exact! It is a little overwhelming now, because our house still looks like we are living in it, and doesn't look like I have packed at all! Ben is taking Friday off, so hopefully I can get a lot done today, and tomorrow morning, then load and unload the truck in afternoon!

Friday I will also be 35 weeks along and Saturday I will have exactly 1 month before the baby comes!.....still are unsure on a name, and I still have not started a thing to get ready for her to come! (I've been wanting to wait until after we moved)

Hoop competition!

I have the best job ever! ...I have been working part-time for the Provo City School District for the past 9 years with the Title VII, Indian Education Program. I love my job, and I love working with the kids....and I love working with my boss, Cathy. I always have crazy things that I want to do, and she is always so supportive and just lets me do what I want! 8 years ago I wanted to start teaching a hoop class. So when I came back from Arizona this past February from the World Hoop Competition, I got all excited and wanted to put on a little hoop competition for the kids that I teach here. With the help of so many, it happened this weekend! Everything went great! The kids had fun, and we had a great turn out! We were even raised some money to help us start funds for next years!

My little brother Ruben made the cool poster for me!

We also went to Averie's birthday party this weekend....She turned 1! Our friends Amy and Brennen planned an amazing party! I think we had just as much fun as the kids....the tattoo station was a hit!...I think it was supposed to be mainly for the kids, but the adults hogged all the fun! And there was a big blowup jumping thing, that I think more adults played in then kids...Ben being one of them! However, we couldn't pry Charley away for anything...she loved it! I also made one of Averie's cakes....and I think it turned out cute!

They had a little photo place...I love the ironing board as a surf board!

They were pretty much inseparable....notice that "tats"....Charley had one on each arm, and by the end of the night, I think Paka had 4!

My bird cake...I thought it was cute....and Averie seemed to like it!....or at least the frosting

July 20th....

Last week, Ben and I were talking and decided that scheduling another c-section was the best route for us. Since Charley was breach and the cord was around her neck, she was a scheduled c-section. Which means we have a variety of options for the next kids. Originally we wanted to try VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Once we figured out our due date, July 24th....4 days before the Bar....we started rethinking everything. We knew with our luck that the baby would come 4 days late, and it would be while Ben was up in SLC taking the Bar, and wouldn't be able to come down. Even if I wasn't going into labor, he would still be worrying about it while he was there. And he really needs to do well and pass. We were thinking maybe they could just induce us early. But the meds that they give you to induce you make your contractions really hard, and have a higher risk of tearing your old cut, so they wont do that. If we wanted a natural birth, we'd have to just let the baby come when she wanted.

So, for us, this is the way we decided the best way was. We didn't really plan for the baby to come right at the bar, it's just the way it happened. When I went to the doctors yesterday, the earliest they could get me in for the c-section is July 20th! It's only 4 days early, but I will be home and my mom will be here to help so Ben can focus on studying and taking the test.

Memorial Day BBQ!!!....

Ben & Cal wrestling....

The Happy Couple....Just got engaged on Friday! ....Charley had to sneak into the photo!

Cousin Paul & Chelsea....Charley loved them right away....after she saw they had a dog! She thought Minnie was so fun!

Everyone thought it would be funny to make Charley lick Calvin....so they had to hold him down so she could do it! Afterward they wanted her to do it again, and Charley said "No, Calvin yucky!"

Charley loves Auntie Jordan!

The Cook!....Thanks Uncle Lloyd for the meat!

Making guacamole!...yumm

The mountain snow has been melting and made a little river that ran though Rock Canyon Park. So Ben took Charley for a little swim....they didn't last long because he said it was FREEZING!!!

It was a fun little BBQ, and we were so glad to have family around to share the day with!

My Buddy and Me!

Charley knows that every Friday she gets to play with her friend Paka! This last Friday they played in the sprinklers/hose. They had so much fun. We are gonna miss the Owans when they move!

taking it to the next level...

Not only does Charley think her pink puppy purse is a real dog....this past week, she thinks she is a real dog! She will crawl around and have us play "fetch" with her, and bark and lick us! Hopefully this little phase wont last too long!

What happended to my "Glow" I was supposed to get?

So I am 30-ish weeks. I'll be 31 on Friday.

This week has been miserable!!! I have allergies, so my nose is stuffed up all the time, and I am constantly blowing...even at night. I have itchy eyes, a headache and am sneezing 20 times a day...and I can't take anything! And I am sooo hot all the time. Charley was a winter baby, so I never really had to worry too much about being able to cool down, I just walked outside. ....Otherwise I feel great!...heehee! So my "pregnant glow" is being overshadowed by red eyes and a red nose!

My gaul bladder is doing better this time than last time. I think because I am actually planning dinners every week. My upstairs neighbor used to be a chef and told me about this cool website www.cookinglight.com. It has a lot of really healthy recipies and even tells you the nutrititonal values for each meal. Some meals I still have to adjust and make things even less fattning, but it has helped a lot.

In other news....We are moving!....but don't ask us where...we still have no idea. Because we are not students anymore, BYU is kicking us out! We could technically stay until after the baby is born, but we decided it would be better to move out before. Then I could actually unpack the baby stuff and get things washed, cleaned and set up for her to come. Poor thing, I feel like we are neglecting her, and she isn't even here yet. We have been so busy with school/graduation/family coming, my work (the end of the school year is always busy trying to tie up loose ends before summer), Ben's work, and now packing and looking for a place, I forget half the time I am even pregnant. We put in our 60 day notice, and have to be out mid June. We decided we are not going to buy yet. We want to rent and save up a little longer before we do, but most likely we will be moving up to Lehi area.

I think that's it!