Running with Dad

May 18th - Josh and Henry participated in the 'Law Run' which consisted of a 5K around the University of Utah. I was so proud to see them cross the finish line as it rained on them the whole time!

Millicent Ella Snow

Introducing the newest member of our little family. Welcome to the world sweet Millicent. As I write this I am torn with all the emotions of a new mother, but most of all I am excited to finally have our sweet little girl here. Pregnancy is a long journey in which a woman learns a great deal of patience I think. Let me share with you how sweet Millicent made her debut. 

If you recall in my last post I mentioned that I was not yet progressing any, and had a C-Section scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st. This date in particular was going to make it so that both my babies were born on their due dates, as well as on a Wednesday - Just a fun little tid-bit. Anyway. My last appointment before said C-section was the Tuesday before. (8 days before, not the day before) My Dr. checked me only to tell me that I had not made any progress, and was only in the very beginning stages of thinning. TMI? Sorry - Comes with the story. Bummer, I thought, but that made it easy to plan the next week - So I thought. Well, the days passed slowly and finals took forever. On Tuesday, April 30, I woke up around 430am with terrible, awful pains. Cramping. That's all I thought of it. Just AWFUL AWFUL cramping. It would go away and I would turn to my other side only to experience it again. Several more times. I was probably 2 hours before I decided that they were in fact contractions, albeit much much different and worse then the braxton hicks I had been experiencing since as early as 26 weeks in my pregnancy. Well, I got up and got busy. I remember Josh getting ready for work while I cleaned Henry's room, and struggled through some round ligament pain. The day before my sister in law offered to take Henry for a bit the following day (now today) so he could get out and have some play time. THANK GOODNESS is all I have to say. I remember Josh helping me back to bed, delaying his work morning by several hours to wait contractions out with me. He then took Henry over to Aunt Jessica's for some play time and went into the office, with me promising to call him if contractions got as close as 6 minutes apart. Before my sweet husband left he downloaded a contractions timer/counter onto my phone. During this time my contractions were coming between every 8-15 minutes. They were wide spread and irregular. I talked with my mom who I assured nothing would happen but promised to call if it did. I tried to eat something and even stopped timing them for a while as they became even more irregular as my activity changed. (A sign of false labor) Well, my sweet, worried husband returned home just a few short hours later finding himself unable to work. He picked up lunch for us, and he sat in bed with me as I ate and struggled through somewhat closer contractions. He finally persuaded me to call my nurse who proceeded to tell me that the contractions were too irregular to come in, but that taking a warm bath should relieve the pain and make them go away. She told me if they didnt go away to come in and at least get checked. Well, a bath, and 4 hours later I was still experiencing very very painful contractions, although still irregular. Well... Josh finally talked me into going in to get checked and I remember telling him that it was going to be more work then it was worth for him to get me all the way there just to get me all the way back when my C-Section was schedule for just 16 hours later. He threw my bag in the car and off we went. I struggle through what felt like several, although it was maybe only 2 or 3 contractions, on the 15 minute drive to the hospital. My mom called while we were in route and Josh let her know we were just going in to get checked and that we would be in touch. Well, we got all checked in and checked and we were told I was thinned and dilated to a 3 and in active labor. They were going to keep me and it wasn't more then probably 20 minutes later they were taking me into the O.R. for my c-section. I remember feeling nervous, upset that I had been talked into going to the hospital :) and scared. We hadn't even brought our camera! I remember the wave of relief I experienced over my whole body it seemed when we heard our first baby girl's cry. I remember feeling so grateful to have Josh by my side and feeling this incredible bond to him. I remember feeling how incredible this miracle straight from Heaven was. Well, because things moved so quickly after getting to the hospital we didn't call our families so they were all surprised to receive a call that Millicent had arrived! We had short visits from Josh's mom, who brought Henry up, and my parents. Because of the time of the day (about 7pm) we asked that other visitors wait until the next day to come meet Millicent. I remember feeling very very dizzy, and unable to sit up in bed by myself. Josh had to prop me up a couple times. I was lucky enough to have Josh able to stay in the first night in the hospital with me, and was grateful Millie latched so well immediately. I am blessed to have had such a smooth procedure and recovery. I am still sore, but have had no unexpected pregnancy/delivery hiccups. Millicent is healthy and beautiful, and we are so blessed to have her. Enjoy the Many, many...many pictures, and expect more to come. 

Millicent Ella Snow
April 30, 2013
8 lbs 12 oz

FIRST DAYS AND WEEKS AT HOME WITH MILLICENT ELLA SNOW

One week old with Bobbi 

Snow side Cousins (Easton holding Millie) 

Daddy and Millicent taking a nap

Henry LOVES to be near Millicent - Even in her crib
(The light pink blanket Millie is laying on is one Grandma Snow made her, and the blue one hanging behind Henry is one Daddy made..)

2 Weeks old next to Bobbi

A Post Long Overdu

I have wanted to write this post for a rather long time now, and am finally just sitting down with only that as my purpose. We have a little updating to do.

I am feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. Josh was offered a position in the misdemeanors department as an attorney at the Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association - Just 2 days before my birthday. What a gift right? It was actually quite amazing because we knew a position may be opening up at the time, but were under the impression that an attorney was going to be brought in and put in the felony department making it so that a misdemeanor attorney would not have the opportunity to move up and a spot would then not actually be vacant for Josh. Well, we struggled for almost 2 weeks with frustration from being passed up again by an attorney that had just a year or two on Josh. Well, what a surprise when my sweet husband called me on Tuesday afternoon to ask why I wasnt checking my texts, and then proceeded to tell me "I start full time on Monday" - Uh...what? Just like that. "I start full time on Monday" I then went on to ask if they were going to allow him to work full time as a clerk thinking, well...that's a good sign, and very nice of them. "No," he says, "They are putting me in the misdemeanors dept." ...
I wont go on to tell you the entire conversation, but I did tell him that I didnt think it was nice to play jokes on his very pregnant, emotional wife. That is simply wasnt funny. I was CONVINCED he was just messing with me, and when I finally realized that this LONG awaited moment was HERE... I cried. And cried and cried and cried. I could barely mutter a "congratulations sweetheart, I'm very proud of you" and I hung up.
I dont write this post to brag in any way about the opportunity Josh has now to finally work full time in the field he has studied so hard - I only write to express my gratitude to a higher power who has blessed our family with the means to allow us to move across the country so that Josh could study at GW. I am so grateful for Josh, who worked, and studied and studied and worked - well almost 2 months later he is enjoying the time he spends working with his many clients and the time he spends in the courtroom, and I am especially enjoying that he is able to practice law and do what he was wanted to do for over ten years!

We sold our little blue car. Because of the time I spend at school we are transferring Henry's car seat every day of the week and decided with us adding another car seat to the arrangement a slightly bigger car would be nice to have. We decided to place our little blue online for sale late friday night just to see what would happen, as I was convinced it would never sell. By midnight we had over 150 people look at it and by 11am the next day it was sold. We asked a little lower the what blue book said it was worth with the body damage but about 800 more then we would have taken for it. The buyer didnt haggle and seemed very happy with the car, and we were THRILLED to have it sell so quickly! So... two weeks later we are still in limbo between cars, but Josh's mom has been gracious enough to let us test drive Lynn's Ford Escape to see if we would like to purchase it from her. Well, it's slightly more expensive to drive, but anything would be after driving our tiny 2 door hyundai for 6 years so we are soon going to be the proud new owners of a much roomier car!

PREGNANCY UPDATE

This is my most recent prego pic. I am 37 weeks exactly in the picture and feel like I am overdue... but as I write this I am alomst 38 weeks and feel like I have so much to do before she gets here and am hoping for some nesting energy because I just feel tired. All THE TIME. I do feel blessed however to have had such an easy pregnancy. Yes, I have experienced all the regular symptoms, heartburn, charlie horses, exhaustion, round ligament pain, sciatic never pain...but nothing major.
I have gained 25 pounds with this chicklet thus far - (28 with Henry)
I don't feel like I have had many crazy cravings. I am grateful this little girl is a wiggly one. That some how seems to comfort me each day. I am still in school 4 nights a week from 5-10pm and have one friday afternoon class - It's a little much, and Im not entirely sure what I was thinking, but if I can get through this week and next, and 8 tests in the meantime I will have survived. Counting down the days!
I do have a C-section scheduled for baby girl for May 1st, as I am not progressing any - and while it's early my Dr really only feels comfortable letting me labor if I dilate quickly. No sense in laboring for 20+ hours only to have another C-section. I will let you know what happens in a couple weeks! Its a little crazy to think that it wont just be Henry and I here very soon, and then I wont be pregnant in just a couple weeks time. I do wish that I had more in me to make these last couple weeks with Henry really count, but thank goodness toddlers are very forgiving. He is still the sweetest boy, although much much more independent that I would prefer :)
Henry LOVES to read, and color more and more each day. We have found a story time at the local library that he enjoys each week, and starts on a little soccer team with his cousin this next week. Uniform and all! I have enrolled him in Pre-school for this coming fall with a teacher I think he will adore. It is CRAZY to think he will be starting kindergarten next year! Henry LOVES to ride his bike and we are sure the training wheels will come off by his birthday. He is practicing balancing on two wheels already. He is constantly coloring pictures for his buddies Finn, Alex, Gabriella, and Paige. I find them all over the house...Sorry we dont send them more often! :)

Anyway, life is going well for the Snow family and we are grateful for all our blessings.

February 10, 2013

It was 10 years ago today I met my sweet husband and started this crazy adventure with him. I wish now that I had really prepared something for him because he is the most wonderful Husband, Father, and friend. I am grateful to share this journey with him. Have I told you how Josh and I met? Here is a small recap if you don't already know.

February 10, 2003
I had a conflict with my high school class schedule and needed to change some of my classes. Seminary happened to be one of those classes. I was actually really excited because a good friend of mine had seminary the period I was transferring into and she thought there was room in her class if I just asked. I had every intention of doing so, but felt as I went in to ask to let them put me in a class that they felt I needed to be in. Well, they didnt put me in my friend's class. I walked into my class, where we were almost immediately asked to pair up for a game of scripture battleship. .... Awkward. I hate when you have to pair up. I didnt know anyone in the class and was left at the end just waiting for anyone else who might not have a partner. Well, CLEAR across the classroom and in the OPPOSITE corner sat Josh. We eyed each other and he walked over and we played our game of battleship. He cheated. He will tell you otherwise, but he did. Anyway, after that day we became almost instantly inseparable. He would hide my scriptures before class...or would I hide his? We emailed and enjoyed each other's company on the walk after seminary each day. I remember when he got his cool little sports car and showed m in the parking lot on the way back to school one day. We were becoming best friends. At the time we were each dating other people...and by dating, at least for me, I use the term loosely. How much can you really be dating just one person in high school? What qualified was that I was holding hands with another boy and that simply made him my boyfriend... ANYWAY the time we spent getting to know each other was SO much fun. In  a very short time Josh became my best friend and has been ever since.

I LOVE YOU, and I will be forever grateful I didnt ask to be in my friends seminary class.

Chair re-upholstery project

This is Josh's latest project. His mom gave him this chair about a week ago. It belonged to his dad who had also at one time re-upholstered it. Enjoy! I know I will!

BEFORE

 AFTER

Latest Projects

I am a reaper of many rewards when it comes to Josh's talents. He loves to work and build things and I always seem to benefit. It doesn't end there. Josh enjoys and is talented with his camera and capturing really adorable pictures. Anyway, here are his latest projects....

Do you remember that really old white door Josh found at the DI? I really wanted to wait to show you until it became our bed, but thats probably going to be a while. This is the finished headboard though. Cool huh? Then, if you can, imagine the top thin bar lit up from behind. I didnt plug in the lights to show you, but just imagine... :) Our bedding is navy and white, an we have an assortment of blue(s) fabrics that I am going to make throw pillows out of... Until I can show the final room ya hafta use your imagination

This is the bench Josh made from scratch for the end of our bed. He cut the stencil out himself for that bird and painted it on... LOVE IT!

Okay.... Josh did NOT make this, BUT it was my Christmas present this year, and I have to share it. Josh got me this chair in one of the many little consignment shops around here. I love this because somewhere out there is someone that belongs to this chair. It has a story, and now we get to add to this little rocking chairs story. Henry picked out the pillow, and I will always remember that he picked it out because at the time his favorite color was green. (Right now it's blue... :))

Pregnancy Update AND Happy 2013!

Well, It's been a while since I've written. Too long. Anyway, I am here now to update you about the Snow family happenings. As of yesterday I am 23 weeks pregnant with our sweet little GIRL! Yes, we found out about 2 weeks ago we will be welcoming a sweet little girl into our family this spring. AND YES! I can now finally say I am having this little angel THIS year. I dont know why, but that makes it feel sooner. I feel really good. We are all recovering from colds and the 24 hour stomach flu, but other then that the only thing that seems to be bothering me regularly is my back and that really just started. This sweet girl is a MOVER! She is all over the place, which I love. Being pregnant puts you in a very vulnerable state, and all this moving she does is very reassuring. I started feeling bean kick regularly about 15 weeks. Josh was able to feel her wiggle from the outside at exactly 17 weeks. It was really rather sweet. Laying in bed and feeling her say "hi dad!" Henry talks about baby every day. He wants to share his toys, and blankets with her. He wants to help rock her and do diaper changes. He knows she's going to need a binkie sometimes, and is constantly kissing her. It really has been a sweet thing to watch as he loves her so much already. I hope he adjusts as well to her arrival as he has my being pregnant, although, I do understand they are very different.
Well, we welcomed in a new year yesterday! How did we celebrate? We slept. We have been fighting terrible sinus colds and 24 hour stomach bugs. I think we are all feeling well enough to have life resume as normal today. Normal means Josh starts work again, Henry seems to be feeling well enough and maybe, just maybe I can run some errands and plan a normal dinner tonight. School doesnt start again for another couple weeks so I will THOROUGHLY continue to enjoy my break. Anyway, it doesnt seem like much, but there's our update. Until there's something more to tell you....adios