Becky, Jared and Sarah
Family
Family
Family Fun!
Aug 11th
Sarah was blessed on August 1st, 2010 on her two month birthday! My whole family came out for it, so I have a lot to post about. Since there is so much to post I think I’ll do it in individual posts. We did a lot of fun stuff.
July 29 and 30
On Thursday and Friday I got to hang out with Mark and Emily at Justin and Beth’s. I got to see both sets of twins! Mark and Emily had their 5 1/2 month olds named Elizabeth and Mark. Justin and Beth had their 3 day old twins Lindsey and Luke. They were so cute. It was also the first time Mark, Emily, and Beth got to see Sarah.
Sarah got some play time with Mark and Elizabeth.
Sarah is in a double twin sandwich.
Mark, Elizabeth, Sarah, Luke, and Lindsey. They are ordered oldest to youngest
I also got to hold Lindsey. She is so cute and small. She was as long as Sarah was 19.5-20 inches but weighed a pound less. She made my little Sarah look so big. Sorry I didn’t get a picture with Luke, sad day 
Becky and Lindsey
Friday July 30
We also got to hang out at Jared’s Mom’s house and see Jared’s sister, Nicia and her two kids Alyssa and Logan. It was the first time that Nicia got to see Sarah too. Sorry no pictures though
Saturday July 31
On Saturday we went to the Thanksgiving Point Farm with my sister Katie’s family and my brother David’s family. It was really hot but I think we had fun. It was the first time that Katie and her family had seen Sarah. I think the other kids had a lot of fun on the farm, but Sarah slept through most of it. Oh well.
Sarah and me on the farm
(David and Joyce are in the background)
Trevor riding a pony
Sunday August 1
This is the day of Sarah’s blessing. I feel that this deserves it’s own post, so look for this soon. But her is one picture as a sneak preview
Monday August 2
This was my first day back to work. I brought Sarah the first day back to show her off. She was alright, but it was still stressful to have her at work with me. Luckly, my sister-in-law volunteered to help babysit her while I’ll at work (THANKS STARRIE). Everyone at work said that she is way cute and looks like me. One person said that she had “intelligent eyes” and another said that she looks like a Sarah. Well, it was interesting, bringing her to work, but I’ll glad that I don’t have to bring her to work everyday. It was fun going back to work, I’m looking forward to starting back
Tuesday August 3
On this day we went back to Thanksgiving Point. It was $2 Tuesday. Where all the main attractions are only $2. We decided to go to the Dinosaur Museum. Let me tell you if you hate crowds never go to the Dinosaur Museum on a $2 Tuesday. It was packed. The line was out the door, inside was even worse. We had a huge group too. There was my Mom and Dad, Katie, Corban, Ariana, Joyce, Trevor, Elaine, Cory, Hailey, Brooke, Ryan, Aunt Kathy and her grandson, Bjorn, my cousin Jill, and her two kids. Oh and me and Sarah. I hope I got everyone. I think we had fun even if it was packed.
Stroller Club
Back Row: Katie, Joyce, Becky
Front Row: Corban, Trevor, Corey, Sarah
Sarah and Mommy at Dinosaur museam
My Dad and Ariana
Sarah and me (her mommy)
Afterward we had a picnic outside. The kids had a lot of fun climbing the tree.
Ariana and Hailey
Ryan being Ryan
After our lunch we decided to check out some of the gardens. After all it was $2 Tuesday. We only went to the water falls and then back, but it was fun. It wasn’t crowded like the Dinosaur Museum and was nice. So if you do the the Two Dollar Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point (It runs through August) go to the gardens but not the museum. It was hot, but at least there were trees throughout the gardens. I liked looking through them. I’ll have to go back, it was my first time going.
Wednesday August 4
We went to the zoo. It was Sarah’s first time at the zoo. She did well, but I’m afraid that she didn’t appreciate it that much. We had a huge group there too. Our group consisted of: Becky, Sarah, Justin, Nathan, Hailey, Brooke, Katie, Corban, Ariana, Joyce, Trevor, Elaine, Cory, my mom, my dad, Laurie, and Caleb. I hope I got everyone. I got there a little late and missed the bird show. But we got to see a lot of animals. The Tigers were especially interesting because they were roaming. Then I always love the giraffes. I would have to say those were my two favorites. We had a lot fun although it felt a little bit short, since kids get tired. It was my last day with my family in town so going to the zoo ended it with a bang.
By the Giraffes
Joyce (Cory), Laurie, Mom, Dad
Girls: Brook, Ariana, Elaine
Boys: Caleb, Trevor, Corban
Sarah and Monkeys
Blessings
Jun 30th
I Have been meaning to post all the blessings that have come into our lives when we decided that it was time to have a baby. I truly know that it was the right decision (even with all the lack of sleep).
So here are some of the blessings we have had.
I didn’t know how to go about getting insurance and then my co-workers fiance was a insurance agent
I was thinking about getting a second job and my old boss from my internship called and said that they could use another person part time. They had flexible hours so I could do both jobs. This is also the job that I wanted to have after I had a baby because it is part time with flexible hours and is actually a job in my major. Another blessing in this situation would be that I got a pay raise because I was no longer an intern. Anyway this was such a blessing and she called me I didn’t even have to call.
Living in my grandpa’s house. As you know we lived in my Grandpa’s house for two semesters. This saved us a ton of money when we needed to save money.
Finding this apartment, I would have to say that finding the apartment were we live know is a major blessing. It is the same price or less than our previous apartment with the same perks (internet, a must for Jared, and cable) but it is two bedrooms which we really wanted/needed for another baby (I know that some of you guys had/have a baby in your bedrooms but I couldn’t sleep with her in our room because of all the noises babies make so although I didn’t know it at the time having a second bedroom is a must for us) oh and this goes along with being able to live in my Grandpa’s house because we may have saved in our one bedroom apartment at least for 3 months otherwise and I would have gotten no sleep that way.
Jared was able to find the perfect second job for the summer with relative ease.
More recently a major blessing in my life was that my mom was able to come down and help me with Sarah. I don’t know what i would have done without her. Thanks mom!
I would also say that the relief society is another blessing for arranging meals for us.
Also I have to be grateful that everything went relatively well with my labor and delivery. Another blessing regarding that would be that on the second day in the hospital I was having a hard time feeding Sarah, she was more interested in sleeping. So, I was working with a nurse and lactation consultant all morning to get her to eat. Well, when the doctor was examining Sarah to give her the okay to leave the hospital Sarah threw up right in front of the doctor, it turns out that she had mucus in her stomach and it needed to be pumped out. We feel really blessed that Sarah threw up in front of the doctor, if she had done it with us not only would it have freaked us out (the doctor said she was turning blue) the nurses might have said that it is normal to spit up and brushed us off. So I feel like it is a big blessing that it happened with the doctor.
Another blessing has been in getting all the baby stuff that babies need. Well, first I would have to start with pregnancy, I was blessed that my cousin Kitty and my sister-in-law Nicia and my sister Katie were able to let me borrow their maternity clothes, so I didn’t have to buy them. Thanks Kitty, Nicia, and Katie! Then we have gotten wonderful gifts from friends and family, thanks! Also, my mom gave me money to buy our crib. Then Nicia let me borrow all of her baby girl’s (and there were a lot) clothes. Then we were able to get travel system as a great group gift. Thank you! Then our apartment had built in drawers and cabinets so we didn’t need a dresser. Anyway, we were blessed that way too.
Sarah’s Fan Club
Jun 8th
Here is all the pictures of everyone that visited our special little girl. Thanks for visiting!
Mommy and Sarah
Daddy and Sarah
Grandma Wixom and Sarah
Grandpa Whittle and Sarah
Grandma Whittle and Sarah
Aunt Hailey and Sarah
Aunt Paige and Sarah
Grandpa Wixom and Sarah
Uncle David and Aunt Joyce and Sarah
Uncle Justin and Sarah
Aunt Emily and Sarah
Pregnancy Wrap Up
Jun 8th
This is me at 39 weeks.
This is me at hours from 40 weeks, I’m actually at the hospital for this picture.
Worst Trimester: The first trimester, no one knew I was pregnant I couldn’t buy any baby clothes, and I was sick. My body didn’t feel like it was mine, but there was no outward signs of being pregnant.
Best Trimester: Second trimester: I started to show, I started to feel Sarah kick, I got to get an ultrasound. I was not big enough to be uncomfortable and had way more energy.
What I liked about pregnancy: Well there are a few really good things. Shopping for a baby is always fun. I loved feeling my baby kick. I was obsessed with feeling my stomach and feeling the hard spots that was my baby. I have to say I loved my hard pregnancy stomach. I also loved the ultrasound. I only got one and really wanted to get another one the whole pregnancy. It is quite something else to see your baby on the screen and really know that it is your baby in there.
What I didn’t like about pregnancy: Labor obviously. I didn’t like being sick (I was only sick the first trimester) and the feeling that your body is not your own anymore. I didn’t like being tired all the time.
LABOR STORY
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
The following of my post is my labor story with all the graphic, uncomfortable facts. I decided to post all of the ugly details for my own records so you don’t have to read further. I repeat, you don’t have to read further, this is a TMI, too much information. Warning labor story with details do not read further.
I started having consistent contractions around 5:30 PM on May 31st. (The day before my due date). They were a little stronger than anything I had had so far because they hurt in my back too. They were however manageable and not overly painful. We even invited Andrew and Starrie over for Jared’s amazing homemade french fries and hung out with them. They didn’t even realize that I was in labor. I was timing my contractions using an iPhone app. Well, around 8 or 8:30 PM we decided that since the contractions were still consistant and ranged 5-8 minutes apart we would start to go to the hospital. I also wanted to go to Babies R Us and get a photo frame that you could put the babies hand and foot prints in. So, we had to tell Andrew and Starrie that we needed to go to the hospital. Jared and I even took the time to straighten up our apartment and get the last minute things ready to go to the hospital. We then went to Babies R Us and got my photo frame and then went to the hospital. We got the hospital around 9:45 PM. Once we were at the hospital they checked to see if I was dilated. I was only dilated to 2 cm. (You have to get up to 10 cm to have the baby) and I was 85-90 % effaced (That is how thin the cervix is, you need to be up to 100% to have the baby (Snarky remark by Jared: Hence why they measure it in percent)). Well, they monitored me by keeping track of the baby’s heart rate and my contractions for an hour then they checked me again. I was sadly still at 2 cm. So, the nurse talked to the doctor and they decided to send me home for a little bit to labor there. I might add that although the contractions were still manageable they were starting to pick up the hour I was in the hospital. Well the doctor gave me a choice in pain medicine. I could take one medicine (Percocet) which would take the edge off the contractions or a could get a shot of a really strong medicine (morphine and some other drug) that would knock me out. Well, I decided on the weaker medicine because I didn’t want to be knocked out and I was a little worried that I would not get back to the hospital on time. Well, as we were driving home the contractions really picked up a notch. I got so nauseous and we had to pull over at the University Parkway exit and I threw up. We pulled over just in time. Well, we called the hospital and asked them about the pain medicine, which was probably on the side of the road now. They said unless we could bring in the tablets they wouldn’t be able to give me anything else. Lets, just say if I did absorb the medicine I never felt the effects of it. Well we couldn’t do that so we continued home. Meanwhile my contractions were getting pretty painful and pretty close. I even told Jared that I felt like we were going in the wrong direction. Well we got home and I tried to get ready for bed. I only got as far as putting on some sweats. My contractions were really painful and close by then. I thought about taking a shower to see if that would help me dilate but I couldn’t even seriously consider it, that was when I decided that we were going to go back to the hospital. We were home about 20 minutes. It had been about an hour from the time they told me to go home. Well, we walked in the hospital and told them the contractions were more intense. They put me in a room, checked me again and I was dilated to 3 cm. Well, they decided to keep me this time (thank goodness since the contractions were really intense). I basically told the nurse that I wanted an epidural right then. Side note: I had considered doing it natural if I progressed far enough, like to an 8 or 9 without it. Needless to say at 3 cm going natural was out the question. Well the doctor came in and checked me as well. He said by his measurements I was at 4 cm and almost all the way effaced. So they decided to break my water and then give me my epidural. Well, they broke my water, which was an interesting experience, but not painful. The contractions however were painful and jumped another notch in intensity. I lucky had a labor nurse of some kind to help walk me through contractions. She did an amazing job. She talked me into breathing deeply and pushed on my knees which really, really helped with my back labor. I don’t know how long it was before I got the epidural but it felt like a long time. The epidural was so nice. Slowly my pain began to fade and then I was able to relax. Shortly after I got the epidural they checked me again and I was at 6 cm. The nurse said she didn’t think it would be long before I would be ready to push. She left me then and I just rested for an hour or so. Mind you, I didn’t sleep up just rested. About an hour later the nurse checked me again and I was at 10 cm and fully effaced. So, we began to push. I had to push for an hour and a half. I have talked to a few people who got an epidural and they said that pushing didn’t hurt. I am jealous of them because pushing did hurt for me. My lower back was just in pain. I wanted to move really bad. In fact I did move a few times to see if I could relive some of the pressure. It didn’t help. So, we just kept pushing. Jared was so good during the pushing stage, he stroked my head and gave me ice chips. It took forever to get her passed my pubic bone. Once I did, the nurse told me to stop pushing and they brought in the doctor. He started helping me push and then said I would need to get an episiotomy. I groaned inside, I was really hoping I wouldn’t need one. Well not too long after the doctor came in I delivered Sarah. I got to see a little bit of her as when she was almost out. But not too much. Then they whisked her away to clean her up and check her vitals. She had a good hardy scream which pierced my heart. Sarah Serena Whittle was born at 3:41 AM! Well to ruin the moment, I totally threw up right after I delivered her, but on the plus side I felt immediate relief when they took her out of me. While they were cleaning her up the doctor delivered the placenta. Let me just tell you that it hurt when he was jabbing at my stomach (massaging the uterus down). Also after the placenta was delivered he checked to see if my uterus was doing okay and that hurt too. I must be a wimp. Well, Sarah need help breathing so they put her on oxygen and took her to the nursery. I only got to see a glimpse of her as they took her to the nursery and she was wearing an oxygen mask. Jared went with Sarah (as I wanted him too) and did a good job taking pictures. Well the nurse checked my blood pressure and everything and then I was left in the hospital room by myself. I was a little sad considering that I just went through a major ordeal and now had to wait to really see my daughter. Jared came back after a while to check his blood sugar, it was really high. He had forgot to check it in all the excitement so he needed some time to recover from that. Then he showed me the pictures of my daughter. So, I at least got to see what she looked like. She was beautiful. They kept me in the delivery room for at least an hour afterwards to monitor my blood pressure. By the time they were satisfied with her oxygen it was time to give her a bath. So they moved me to the recovery room before I got to see her. I finally got to see her around 6:30 AM and the morning light was starting to come through the window. They told me she was hungry and immediately tried to get her to breastfeed. She was more tired than hungry so it was a little hard but eventually the nurse let me spend some good quality time gazing at my beautiful little girl. So, that is my labor story and the story of Sarah’s birth.
POST PARTUM
Here is me a couple days after giving birth. I am really happy with the way things turned out, physically. Yes my belly is soft and by belly button looks weird but I have to say that I am happy with my body, for now. I checked my weight after I got home and I lost 15 lbs. Not too shabby. I tried on normal jeans and they fit (as shown in the picture). However, I have been wearing maternity jeans because they are so comfortable. My shirts still fit weird so we will see what happens there. I have been recovering really well. My mom keeps telling me how good I am walking and such. The second day home we took a walk around the block with Sarah. So except for the lack of sleep I’m doing really well. Anyway now I can start focusing on my very, very cute little girl.
Blessing and Baptism
Jun 8th
On May 29th 2010 my nephew Logan was Blessed
Jared and Jocelynn at the Blessing
On May 30th my sister in law, Emily was baptized into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Good job Emily we are proud of your righteous decision.
Lots of other fun things happened that weekend as well
We installed our car seat. It turned out to be a real blessing that we did it before she arrived because we orginally had it behind the driver’s side seat but the car seat was too long so Jared couldn’t put the his seat back as far as he would like. So, now we have it in the middle were it is just right.
We also had a girls lunch (plus Logan) at Zupas (a delicious soup and salad place) to celebrate Nicia’s birthday which would be on the fourth of June. I only took pictures with Logan sorry.
Becky and Logan
Caitlin and Logan
