Brandon's Baptism

Please save the date!!  We're so excited to share this special day with many friends, and family!  We hope that you'll be able to come and celebrate with us.  If you will be traveling in from out of town, please let us know as soon as possible.  We are planning special activities and accommodations for our out of town guests!

http://www.punchbowl.com/save_the_date/c32a29d87a814d58dd15

Breast feeding, Pumping and Formula

Just a warning, this is a rant about feeding, so if you don't want to read, I totally understand.

Okay, so we all know how important breast milk is, and I totally understand that.  I have/had every intention of breast feeding as long as possible. In my mind it was going to be something that was going to come easy, and I was going to pump when I went back to work, and hopefully we'd have breast milk until he was about one?

Well, we all know that nothing goes according to plan.  Hello, we have a baby, and according to my plan I wouldn't even be pregnant for another year.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love my baby boy, but just saying, nothing goes according to plan.

Needless to say, it didn't work out.  B came three weeks early, and according to EVERYONE, he was too wrong to latch, even though we tried, so we started him on the bottle the day he was born.  I tried to get him to latch, for three weeks I would try every time it was time for him to eat, to get him to latch.  He did latch a couple of times, but never for more than a few seconds.  I tried the football hold, holding him across me, with lots of pillows, lying down in bed, walking around with him, even standing on my head.  Just kidding, I never stood on my head.  :)  He just didn't want to latch, and why would he when he knew that he could have a bottle if he just cried long enough.  Luckily I let my nurse talk me into renting the hospital grade pump, and God bless her for talking my stubborn head into it.  As much as I hated pumping then, I didn't know how amazing that pump was until I had to return it.  We were able to get enough that we were feeding him breast milk about 95% of the time.  I was able to do both sides at once, and be done in about 15 minutes.

Then came our month, and me being cheap, didn't want to pay another $80 for the month, when I had a $150 pump sitting in the house ready to be used.  At least we had a little supply built up, because when I switched pumps I swear my supply plummeted.  I could barely get out two ounces, and I was pumping almost four times as long!!  I only bought the swing, which I thought would be great.  The HUGE downside, is that you can only do one side at a time.  So my 15 minute pumping sessions were turning into 30 minutes to an hour depending on how long I had time to sit there.  Now, imagine doing this six to eight times a day.  I was not a happy camper.  Plus, B is now getting to the point where he isn't really napping during the day. (Thank God, really praise you Jesus, that Grandma will now be here in nine days!!)

I started taking Fenugreek about a week and a half ago.  I was taking two pills, three times a day. By Tuesday, I had to go back to the doctor and my supply had not gone up.  I read about women who had their supply instantly go up. I talked to my doctor about this, and she prescribed something else for me to take.  Now I take that three times a day.  I still haven't seen much of an increase, so we are having to supplement A LOT with formula, and not really getting that much breast milk out.  It seems like I am either feeding B, or pumping.  I try to pump for longer periods to see if that will help, but it really isn't.  I go back to work in three weeks, I can't believe it is already here, and I don't know how much I want to try this once I go back.  I know I am going to be even more stressed once I go back to work, so that isn't going to help.

So, my main point is, I think my baby may be a formula baby by two months old.  I know there are plenty of formula babies out there, for lots of different reasons.  One of our good friends is a formula baby, because they adopted and he is a great baby, and very healthy.  I'm not worried about any of that, the cheap side of me, just wishes I would have saved the $150 and spent it on formula rather than a pump I was going to use for a month!

Thanks for listening to me vent, or if you didn't, and just skipped this entry, good for you!!

Aunt Bree's Visit

This past week one of my best friends, Bree, came to visit us!  We had a great time, just doing nothing.  We were able to spend the week relaxing, reading, and eating.  Some of the things that we do best!

Bree flew in Tuesday, and after our busy morning, B and I went to pick her up.  That night Tyler came home and we grilled steaks and had salad for dinner.  It was quite a yummy dinner.  While Bree was unpacking, she also gave us a present.  Check out the pictures to see if you can figure out what she gave us.  :)

Wednesday we spent the day just hanging out with B.  Actually that is how we spent our week, and it was our evenings where we did things.  Wednesday night we went down to Tyler's school to go to dinner at the Vig.  They were donating a part of their sales to Christ, so we went to support the school.  It was nice to spend time with some of Tyler's co-workers too.  A couple friends of ours just put offers in on houses, so it's exciting times for all of us!

Thursday night we had Chili's for dinner because a pat of the sales were going to Shepherd.  We had a bunch of people over to have dinner with us too, which was a lot of fun.  Then Bree stayed home to watch B for us, while Tyler and I went to bible study. I love our weekly bible study, and our group is a lot of fun.

Friday night we went to a murder mystery dinner party.  This time, I was not the killer, which was nice.  I don't think I played very well though because I didn't really know anything about what was going on at the murder.  My clues kept telling me to only talk to two people, so I didn't really expand too much.  Bree was able to go with us, and we had a lot of fun.  Tyler died, and our friend Joe killed him!! It was really funny, because Tyler wouldn't go out with me, so it was fun to ask him why he wouldn't date me.  :)  I would love to do another one, now that we all have a better understanding on how to play.

Saturday morning we had to take Aunt Bree to the airport.  We hate saying goodbye to good friends, but at least we know it's we'll see you soon, and not goodbye.

Getting ready to leave for the airport

Saying goodbye to Aunt Bree

Our firsts...

Last week Tyler and I decided that we wanted B to start sleeping in his crib.  We were able to borrow a basinet from some great friends, but we were ready for him to move into his own room.  It was a long week full of ups and downs, but he is sleeping in his room now all the time!!  It is great, because it gives us quiet in our room, which is great for Tyler since he is working.

I started taking B out for walks during the day too, which has been great.  I'm really looking forward to getting back into shape, and being able to go out and buy some new clothes!

Saturday Tyler and I left B with grandma, and headed up to Prescott for the day with our friends Sarah and Bryant.  It was a blast!  We went hiking around Lynx Lake, and then went and had some lunch with them.  It was great to get out, in the cooler weather, and exercise again!

Today B and I went to Mega Life!  We had a blast, and we were able to meet some more friends.  :)  B did great in church, while people passed him around.  I thought he would be upset by the very loud music, but he did great!

We have an exciting week coming up with Aunt Bree coming to visit!!  :)

DIY - frames

I have been living on Pinterest lately, and have been finding a lot of great ideas that I would like to do in my house.  We have been moving things around, and finding new spaces to put up all of our great photos of B.  In the process of doing this we have moved some frames, and decided we didn't want them any more.  Instead of going out and buying new frames, I decided to give ours an updated look.

I took the old silver frames and decided to paint them using the sample colors left over from B's room.  Then I am going to use these frames to put outside of his room, where I am going to put up pictures of our little monkey.  I'm excited to see how the wall turns out.  For now, here are the frames.

The frames were silver with wedding pictures

 Now they'll be green and khaki with B's pictures

Another pinterest idea I took i decided to hang in our bedroom.  I love this, and decided it would be a great way to affirm each oter.  It was really easy to make too.  Thank you Joann's for the frame, and my Cricut for the words.

Happy birthday Daddy / Grandpa

Yesterday was my dad's birthday!  We just wanted to say happy birthday to an amazing man who is always willing to give us any thing we need!!  We know how much you are sacrificing in the next year for us, and we just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate it.  We all love you!

High school graduation, June 2003

Disneyland trip, October 2005

Christmas pictures, 2006

Double fisting because I graduated college, May 2007

Playing at IKEA, May 2007

Disney World Vacation, July 2007

Disney Cruise, July 2007

Merry Christmas, 1987

Parent's 25th Wedding Anniversary, March 2010

Lake Tahoe, March 2010

Phoenix, November 2010

Christmas 2010

Grandpa and B in the hospital, August 2011

<3 Family <3, August 2011

One Month Old

We can't believe our baby boy is already a month old.  So many things have happened in the last month, and time is going by so fast!  Before I know it I will be back at work already.  We are trying to enjoy our time while we can.  Here are some pictures from our one month photo shoot.  My goal is to take the same photos every month so that way we can see how much he grows!!

Two weeks of visitors part 2

Instead of updating the other entry, I just thought I would make a new one.

So we had a very busy end of our week.  Wednesday we took B to the doctor.  We were having everyone guess how much they thought he would weigh now.  We were all guessing low 8 pounds.  Well, we were all surprised to find out the little guy already weighs 8 pounds, 7 ounces!!  He has really started to pack it on!  While we were at the doctor she told us that we need to cut back on how much we are feeding him.  He was eating, so we were feeding him 5 - 6 ounces at a time.  She wanted us to cut it back to 4 ounces at a time.  Since we have done that, he now has decided that he needs to start eating about every three hours again.  Not so fun.  I was enjoying our longer stretches at night.

Thursday night we took B to his first experience at Benihana.  It was a delicious dinner!  We went to celebrate my dad's birthday, my birthday, and B's birthday.  We had a lot of fun, and our cook was very entertaining.  Of course, B slept through the entire experience.  He is pretty good at sleeping through things.  :)

Friday we just hung out.  My dad got some more things done for us around the house, and we played some more Catan.  My mom and I also made B a onesie to celebrate the fact that he was one month old.  I can't believe how big our little boy is already!

Saturday my grandma, and my parents left to go back home.  It is always sad saying goodbye, but I am excited to know that my parents will be back in just three and a half weeks!!  Plus Bree comes to visit next week, so we know that time will just fly by!

Enjoy some pictures from the last two weeks!

Uncle Jon and B just relaxing

Hanging out with Aunt Nicole

The boys are so cool :)

Saying goodbye to Aunt Nicole

2011 Family Picture

 Daddy's first ASU game of the season

Daddy and B hanging out with CJ and Matt

Cuddle time with grandpa

B is a crazy sleeper!  And yes, that is a pink sheet, we borrowed the basinet from great friends! (who had a girl)

My mom and I love our punch bowl!

B and his two favorite women!

Four generations

Huey family

Two weeks of visitors

My parents came into town last Saturday, just in time for B's birth.  Oh wait, they would have been here about five days before B's due date, but he decided to come three weeks early!!  :) What a little stinker!!  My parents still came to visit though, since they already had their hotel reservations, and the two weeks off of work.  They drove in on Saturday, and my mom brought some more stuff with her. We found places for all of her stuff, and then we just had a great week.  Tyler of course had to work, but my parents, B and I spent the week cleaning house, playing games, doing a little shopping, and of course eating.  I love hanging out with my parents, and I know we'll always have a great time!

Last Thursday Tyler had his first ASU game of the season, so my parents and I took B out for his first dinner out!  We went to this awesome restaurant called Charlestons where my mom and I always get this awesome shrimp appetizer and the ribs for dinner.  AMAZING!!  :)  Before we went to dinner we took pictures of daddy and B in their ASU outfits.  (Once I load pictures, I will make sure to upload them.)

My parents went to Prescott for the weekend, so that way they could start looking at houses.  We are so excited for them to be moving closer to us, and I know we will be spending parts of our summer and breaks up at their new house. They found two houses that they really like, so now they just need to sell their house.  It is a little sad they'll be selilng my childhood home, and B will never get to play in it like I did, but he'll have a gorgeous house in the mountains to play in instead.

While my parents were away Jon and Nicole came to visit us for the long weekend!  We had a blast with them.  Saturday we just hung out all day.  We all took a nap in the afternoon, watched some TV, the boys played some video games, and we just relaxed.  Saturday night we took B for a walk around the neighborhood.  Sunday we took a family trip to the mall, and then when my parents got back into town, the seven of us went to Oregano's for dinner.  That place is amazing too!  We had a great time, even though we had to wait 45 minutes to be seated, and then Nicole and I had to wait 45 minutes for our pizza.  :(

Monday Jon and Nicole had to leave to go back to work.  Never fun saying goodbye to good friends, that we consider our family.  We were sad to see them go, but so excite that they were able to come and spend some time with us!  Hopefully they'll be coming back in December for B's baptism.

This week my grandmother came into town.  She drove in yesterday, and will be staying until Saturday.  I know that we are going to have a great week.  My parents leave on Saturday too.  I can't believe our two weeks together is almost over.  I'm just thankful that four weeks from today they'll be back again, and that time my mom isn't leaving. I can't wait until she is here full time.  :)  We haven't even touched scrapbooking stuff yet, and boy do we have a lot to do!!