Taos

For no other reason than we heard it was a great place, Christian and I took a long weekend trip alone to Taos, NM and we were blown away by everything from the culture and food to the scenery.  This is a photo of Taos Pueblo, oldest continuously inhabited structure in the US.  Some of the homes don't use electricity and they haven't changed the way they lived thousands of years ago.  It was incredible.

The doors were painted to look like the sky.

We rented a jeep and cruised all over NM.  Christian loved it.

Isn't Christian cute?  We had so much fun alone.  We love our kids, but it was just so wonderful to have time alone!!

We decided last-minute to take a "difficult" hike.  It didn't look too bad and there were some older women hiking up as we were hiking down, so we figured it couldn't be that bad.  It was brutal!  The payoff was the view of the Rio Grande and the Red River meeting (I hope I'm remembering those rivers correctly...) but we were both sore for two days.  

We were surprised by Santa Fe - it's a fabulous city with so much culture and great shopping and Frito Pies.  Yep, chili in a frito bag with toppings - delicious.  In fact, every single meal we had the entire weekend was amazing.  I think I might even go back to NM just for the food.

Their first birthday cake

I turned 32.  No big deal, not a noteworthy age, but gosh it made me feel old.  Every year I face the realization that in a family it's the mother's job to decorate, buy gifts, and make the ever important cake.  So when it's mom's turn to be queen either you do it yourself or you wait for the store-bought cake to come the following weekend.  Don't get me wrong, Christian always treats me well around my birthday, but there is something to be said for a cake on your birthday.  Janet had the inspired idea to start a tradition: the children make the cake.  I helped them this time and I'm sure I will next time, but after that I'm hoping the tradition will stick and I can let them take over.  

I really only had decent pictures of Winfield because it turns out they needed a LOT of help (eggs are tricky!) and it's hard to do that and be cameraman at the same time.  Doesn't he look cute though?

They were so proud of themselves and although the cake was not one of the best, it was such a wonderful feeling to see them doing something together so cheerfully.  It was the best birthday present.  Oh look, Georgia thought she was turning 1 and dove right in with both hands.  Your day will come, little one, and before you know it, your babies will be baking your cakes.  Now there's a thought to make me feel old...

We went to dinner and left the boys to decorate the cake with the babysitter.  It was quite the presentation topped with licorice, m&m's, chocolates, sprinkles, and caramels.  Wow!

The Hospital, Round Two

Home sweet home!  Mom put out pink balloons (I've always wanted them) and flowers to announce Georgia's arrival.  We all look a bit disheveled and we were - all week.

Trying out the Bjorn - Christian's favorite way to transport a baby, not Georgia's.

This is not the maternity ward, but the cardiac floor.  It's kind of a long story.  I did not feel well all week and finally went to the ER because of chest pain, heartburn, a bad headache and swelling in my legs.  After my blood pressure spiked (I can't remember the numbers because they checked it every 5 minutes) and my heart rate dropped to 40 they did EKG's, ultrasounds on my legs, a CT scan, and even wheeled in the paddles to re-start my heart, just in case.  After two morphine doses, a magnesium shot in my IV, and what seemed like a slew of other meds, they finally sent me up to the cardiac floor for the next few days to be watched, poked, and "figured out" since nobody could decide what was wrong with me.  Since Christian was on the train back from a meeting in Chicago (he still feels guilty about that, even though he shouldn't), Laura was with the boys, and my mom was on an airplane back to Utah, I was alone with baby Georgia through this horrible experience.  It was scary, just so darn scary.  I never want to re-live that.  I'll leave out the rest of the details and just say that Christian was my absolute hero through this from the moment he burst into the ER room.  When he was nearby, my body seemed to stabilize itself better and once we both stopped sobbing, we were actually able to laugh about a few things.  We had so much help through this - the seen and the unseen.  I know my sister, Georgia was with me, I just do.  I know the prayers that were said for me worked.  I know they did.  I felt it over and over again.  One of the most touching parts of this story is how Laura, my sister in-law took Georgia home during the nights I was in the hospital and nursed her along with her own baby.  She was only one week old, and it put me at ease knowing Laura was giving her the nutrition I couldn't give her while I pumped all of those meds out of my system.  Now there is true sisterhood.  Our ward brought meals and set up playdates for the kids.  Thank you to everyone, a million times thank you!  And here are some pictures of our angel family who came to take over as the parents for our shaken family:

Paddy and Genevieve were the perfect medicine for Jack, Winfield, and Charles.  I think I only saw them a few times in three days since I slept around the clock, but they kept everyone happy, fed, and clean.  Who could ask for more?

Aunt Genny and Georgia

My mom flew back to our house just days after she got home to Utah and stepped in as my personal aide, answering the door and phone for me, making sure I was well fed, rested, and emotional stable.

Caroline took over once my mom left and had probably the most uneventful Memorial weekend of her life.  The two helped me decorate the nursery (okay, I sat and nursed while the did all of the work).  They took me out to lunch for my (and Georgia's) first outing.  We went to a quiet and relaxing tea house and had crumpets, no kidding.  

Our little sweetheart.  She is worth all of the pain.  I'd do it all again for her...just maybe not right away!

Showered...make that Soaked

Check out this spread!  That is the magic of Cortney Huber's creativity.  She and Laura gave me the most fabulous baby shower.  There were potted flowers with little seed packages stuck in, veggies in lined pots, and tiny little flower pots with quotes in them from my mother (things like, "Elbows off the table" and "Be interested and interesting").  I wish I had added "grits and sausage are married" but maybe I would be the only one to get that.  In any case, it was a gorgeous spread and the food was incredible.  Just check out this lemon tart with raspberries, and no, I didn't take the pictures.  That would be Melinda from our ward - she's a genius with photography. 

Laura put together my first every diaper cake, complete with a tiny pair of black, patent-leather shoes on top and home-made flower clips.  Each diaper was tied with one of those unbelievably skinny rubber bands that mothers of girls use with a magical ease.  The next day I practiced on Audrey's hair and saw what a long way I have to go with hair-dos.  In any case, it was a really cute addition to the already decorated house.  Laura had painted a big "Baby GEORGIA" banner on fabulous paper and it was less shocking to me than I thought it would be.  I just have to again say how thrilled I am to use that lovely name in honor of a lovely person!

Okay, I have not been this spoiled at a shower since I had Jack.  There were something like 25 women there from church and they all were in the party spirit.  It really was a girls' night out kind of party.  So, kudos to Laura and Cortney for planning such an event.  

This is me with Audrey before opening presents.  Just add two more curious hands and a mound of gift bags and you get the idea of the shower.  I was surrounded - by children and gifts.  But hey, I'm not complaining.  I felt so utterly loved that night.  So, thank you a million times to Laura and Cortney!!

I just had to add this last picture.  As you can see, I am one of the last in the ward to have a baby in this ridiculous surge of births.  Luckily, 4 of these 5 baby carriers are for girls, so our little one will have lots of friends.  Adam stayed downstairs during the shower with the toddlers for as long as he could manage, but they all made their way up, along with Adam - the sole male at the party.  With a baby on his hip, he seemed quite at ease among the moms, albeit a little frazzled with the kids.  Way to be comfortable with your manhood, Adam!  (oh, and thanks for babysitting).