Brian Head

Conference weekend we went with Mike's parents and sister's family to Brian Head. Being the Vegas go-to place for winter weather, you'd think I would have been there, but no. Maybe because I'm not a winter-loving person. BLAAAH. And, to describe Brian Head in one word. COLD. And for a second word, WINDY. Maybe it's not always both of those, but it didn't leave a warm inviting impression on me. It was a good vacation though, don't get me wrong, I'm just not ready for the winter, never am.

As for June's first vacation, I was very proud of her and how well she did. She was happy and good and just like she always is. I'm pretty lucky with this little girl.

The boys went 4-wheeling, so we bundle, and I mean BUNDLED the kids up and went on a walk so that we could get out for a bit.

How cute are these little cousins?

I just love my little lady.

Mike and I did get to enjoy a nice 4-wheeling trip with Amy and Cary with a little break from the kids. Maybe I'll get a picture of that later.

All grown up and moving out.

June's all grown up and moving out- of our room. Just shy of 2 months, it's about time. Mike's said a few times now that we have a whole, fully decorated room for this little girl, but we're not using it. I might possibly be on my way to becoming an over concerned/ protective and clingy mom (I think clingy is more appropriate than smotherly, but sure I'm that, too). So, I figure I should start now with trying to get use to my baby moving on and upward. This will make the first day of school, having a teenager and her moving out on her own one day all easier, right? I'm trying to start healthy habits now. If only she was able to fall asleep on her own with out a swing, nursing or being held.

Last night we had fun cycle of June seeming asleep, but then hearing her grunt and making noise on the monitor so we'd go in to find her with the blanket completely kicked off and her mouthing towards the edge of the binky or her blanket. At one point she had pushed herself about 6 inches up from where she started. We'd re-wrap her, pop back in the binky, then think maybe she's really asleep this time. Finally, a little more milk did the trick. Last night I remember turning on the monitor and even checking it and turning it up before I fell asleep, but when I woke up 6 hours later, it was off, and she was awake, ready to eat, but not fussy (phewww)- A little secret I have, I've never woken to June crying and she rarely cries unless she's got a bad tummy ache. I'm pretty lucky, but I dread the day I wake to her crying and go in to see huge tears falling from a look that says "where've you been?" I'm a little harder on myself than I should be, but I'm starting to understand my mom a lot more.

Blessing Day

Thank you all for coming! Se have such amazing friends and family and couldn't be more blessed.

SWIMMING!!!

I've been wanting to go swimming forever, but haven't wanted to go alone and feel like it's too cool to go after Mike home from work. So, finally we went today and Aunt Ashley was such a trooper to go with us, to take pictures for me and to not mind June peeing out of her swimmers onto Ash's lap. OOPS! June loved swimming (when ever she puts up with me and what I put her through, like the shower we took the other day, if she can do it without crying, not that she ever cries, then I assume she loves it as much as I do and that I can do it again.)

A whole month!

I can't believe how fast this month has flown by. Before June was here the months just wouldn't pass fast enough, but now she's already a month plus some. Here are some of the things we've been up t0.

Lots of sleeping! Which I love because I can catch up on the sleep I missed nursing at night and just waking up from thinking June might be awake- or I'm slowly getting things done around the house in between her naps.

Hanging out all day, just the two of us- which our days don't really start till noon.

Until daddy gets home. Which occasionally June enjoys watching him play a game or two.

We attempt tummy time, but I don't know that this is what it's suppose to be for.

LOTS of smiles and funny faces.

June loves her real baths so much more than the sponge ones on the counter top. I'm still anxiously waiting to take her swimming, even though it'll probably only last a minute.

We've made it back to church, sort of. And met almost all our family.

We're trying to get out a little more.

Hanging out at Deer Creek. We really need to get out more before it's too cold outside. June's awake more than if we were just at home, as a result then sleeps better at night. It's just hard for me to nurse and feel like I have everything put together when we're outside.

Camp fire and weenie roast up the canyon.

Playing at the Flake's (her future best friends). Tae loves to take care of June and Jess really takes care of us all the time.

I also can't believe how fast June is growing. At her 2 week she had already gained 1.5 pounds, and she hasn't slowed down since. I'm sad to see her grow and will miss how little she is now. I guess she's not really a new born anymore, but she is awake more, is showing more character and is growing up. Mike and I still are amazed that she's ours and we'll be watching her and just can't believe how cute she is and how much we love her.

Making a little noise.

We just can't get enough of her!

Our little Girl!!!

June Jennifer Sorensen

July 22, 2009

2:17 am

6 lbs. 11 oz.

My due date came and went- which was a little traumatic simply because you think that's the END, but it's not and you're left wondering and anxious. Monday we left the doctor's planning for induction on Thursday so I was then headed to the pool to distract from the waiting. The doc must have done something during the appointment because I started having back aches with my contractions- These were definitely not Braxton hicks. I called my mom and she, along with 2 sisters, 1 brother and a niece were all headed up.

Around 9 pm we went in to the hospital and were monitored for an hour but sent home since I wasn't making any progress with dilating. However, I did get a nice morphine shots to ease the pain and allow me to sleep for couple hours before I was feeling the contractions every ten minutes again. Tuesday I was hating life as I just had to wait for my contractions to get close enough together. Finally around noon I was so uncomfortable that I figured if I went to the hospital and got sent home, at least I could get another shot.

At the hospital I was at 3 cm and I got to stay!!!! Not long after being there, the nurse was getting my I.V. set up, my doctor was breaking my water, and I was getting my epidural- all at the same time. Oh, how I love epidurals! I was so numb, but could now relax, think, and hold a conversation, although it would be 12+ hours till she was here.

At the time I didn't realize how serious our little problems were. June didn't respond well when I was put on PIT but then I didn't contract well without it. Later into the night I STILL wasn't making progress and there was some serious mention of the "C" word. With a final make or break attempt with the PIT *fighting tears and saying some major prayers in my heart* We dodged that bullet. FINALLY, when I was fully dilated and with one attempt to see how pushing would be, I was stopped and the worrying began again. Once my doctor arrived, I was told we didn't have the hours it might normally take, so somehow, with an episiotomy and some excellent pushing, she was here within 20 minutes. My epidural was starting to loosen up so I could feel the pressure, but not really the pain (YET). As June was born I could feel a bit of the relief as her head and the rush of fluids, then I could feel her little limbs as the exited- Sounds a little gross, but was pretty amazing. They plopped her up on my chest and I remember thinking "Oh, maybe I should touch my baby"- even though she was all gross, so I grabbed her little hand. After Mike cut the cord (which had been around her neck and the cause of all her distress), she was taken over to get cleaned off. They brought her over to me for another second after she was all bundled up, but said she was going to the NICU for a little evaluation. I still wasn't clued in on things being serious or needing to worry. I was really out of it, but can you blame me- almost 32 hours of not being able to eat and in labor, 14 hours in the hospital, 20 min of pushing with all my heart, LOTS of med -which were waring off and I felt like I was going into labor all over, tons of monitors (I had 10 different things attached to various body parts) and then I was just suppose to comprehend that this was my daughter or to be able to observe the concern of other people in the room?

I was so out of it and was feeling the ache of the contractions (In case you didn't know, the contractions don't stop for a long time after the birth). When they took me to my mother/baby room, all I could think about was needing something for my pain. Again, Yay! for medicine and Yay! for morphine!!! It wasn't until I woke up at 6 am that I really wanted to see my baby. She wasn't released from the NICU until about 8 am, then was brought into my around 9 am.

Mike went in with my sister to the NICU. I'm so glad at the time I didn't see her like this, I would have really been freaked out. It's not as bad as it looks.

WOW, this is MY little girl!!

This little girl is amazing!!! She's been so mellow from the start and smiling from the day she was born. She rarely cries and has been so good at nursing and sleeping and even is sleeping through most of the night- while I'm still up paranoid that she needs to be eating. I really feel so blessed *tears*- You've got to love all the emotions and the quick trigger tears that are part of this, let alone the humility and awe that comes with having such an angel come into my life.

My sisters Dessa and Delyse, brother Dane, niece Hazel, mom Jenny with our new little family.

Mike has been so cute and adores June so much, and has made me feel wonderful with his encouragement and compliments.

On our way home!! I've never seen Mike drive so cautiously.

Her first bath at home.

My two angels. I love these too so so so much! Sometimes I just can't believe how much and how fast this little girl can bring so much joy and love into a home. I finally can comprehend why women willingly go through pregnancy more than once. Now I just hope that I can be the mom that this little girl deserves and that I can meet all her needs. I am so blessed to have such a good happy little girl that's been such a fighter and is so peaceful and has made becoming a mom so easy.

ALL READY!

I think we're all ready and we've got all we need, now we just have to wait for the last piece of the nursery- THE BABY!

Minus the horrible cut and paste job I did with the photo, here's what our little girl's room looks like. It's probably my new favorite place to be in our home.

I'm thinking the baby is getting pretty ready to come, too. Every day she feels bigger and stronger, which makes me more uncomfortable like I don't have enough room for her in there. After rocking her all day long as I'm up and going, as soon as I lay down for bed she gets a huge spirt of energy and her movements drive me crazy with how hard they are, especially when she hits my ribs, ligaments or nerves that send shocks through my pelvis and legs- and I'm trying to sleep. Maybe this will give you and idea of what it's like if you don't already know.

Baseball and fireworks.

Utah really loves its fireworks. If the 4th, 24th and all the city days aren't enough, how about we have them at all the baseball games too?