2008

So, both of my sister's did this in my e-mail today and I thought it would be a fun final blog for the year. They both went through a lot of changes and I don't know how many I can come up with, but here goes:

I began the year having just cut off a foot and a 1/2 of my hair.

I ended the year debating whether or not I should grow it out like a polygamist again...

I began the year with a 2-year-old in diapers.
I ended the year with a potty-trained 3-year-old and a 3-week-old.

I began the year partying it up hard-core at my folks' house playing games, drinking Martinelli's, and watching the ball drop in NYC on the TV.
I ended the year (will end it) playing games at my house, drinking Martinelli's, and going to bed by 10 PM.

I began the year with a 1980s big screen TV and a set of couches from grandparents and DI.
I ended the year with a 45" Samsung LCD and brand new matching couches (thank you, 1 vs. 100)!

I began the year feeling incredibly poor, but excited to have my own home.
I ended the year feeling incredibly poor, and pretty royally ticked that everyone seems to be benefiting from the government but us.... yeah?! I said it!

I began the year taking Malia to Disneyland on a weekly basis.
I ended the year having not been in over a month (withdrawals!).

I began the year missing the stage desperately.
I ended the year missing the stage... desperately.

I began the year enjoying freedom at Church with no callings and a kid who loved nursery.
I ended the year exhausted because I had 4 callings at once, all of which required some sort of preparation... and Malia's going to be a Sunbeam!

I began the year with a home painted like a Crayola box had exploded, stairs that were a deathtrap, termites, a blue kitchen, and a disgusting carpet that gave Malia rashes.
I ended the year with the majority of my home being "Basic Beige," safe stairs, dead termites, an almost white kitchen, and brand new carpet. (and we've only just begun....)

Dave began the year being somewhat outnumbered...
Dave ended the year being hopelessly outnumbered... by girls... (his own fault).

P.S. Possibly more to come throughout the day if I think of them... check back for edits. :)

Elf Yourself!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Our Christmas Letter

Ok - so I wasn't able to get a card/letter out this year... sorry. I've been a little bit busy the last couple of weeks, you know, what with having a baby and all. Oops. *shrug* But here are a few highlights from the year:

*We bought our first house last December and have been slowly turning it into a home. Once we got the walls painted and some things fixed here and there, it really has begun to feel quite cozy and right for us.


*Because Tiffany was on "1 vs. 100" last year and won a little bit of prize money, we actually purchased our first couch set that matches and that DIDN'T come from D.I. This was very exciting for us.

*Dave's little brother, Tyler, got married in June and we flew up to Seattle for the wedding. It was great fun to meet the future sis-in-law for the first time and to be in the temple with loved ones.
*Tiffany's big sister, Cindy, also got married this year, in August. However, to save money, we road-tripped that one. To Utah. And despite some reservations about taking a 2-year-old on a road trip, it was a trip well worth it and again, so awesome to be in the temple with family & friends.
*We welcomed a new niece into the family earlier this year by way of Tiffany's brother, Alan. Her name is Vienna and she is incredibly pleasant and absolutely adorable. Malia & Cecily now have 4 cousins on her Mommy's side.


*Dave is still an "experimental physicist" which means I still don't really know what he does and that he still isn't really allowed to tell me, for the most part.

*Tiffany found out she was pregnant in April and actually found out the "normal" way. After the initial excitement, there was a little bit of of frustration in the realization that we would be having yet another baby in December. We will be poor at the end of the year for the rest of our lives.


*Tiffany took on a few musical projects for our Stake here in CA and, while somewhat overwhelming herself, appreciated the creative outlet and the opportunity to put her talents to use since they have felt a bit stagnant as of late.

*Malia is potty-trained! And it happened so easily and quickly. She is also ridiculously excited about starting dance classes at the beginning of this next year. We realize now, with the new baby, that Malia is no longer a baby AT ALL. We look at her and see a little girl. A beautiful, talented, intelligent, spunky, stubborn, and amazing little girl. We took her to a talent agency where they wanted to start her on acting classes immediately but we didn't feel it was worth the cost. We know our little girl rules. We don't need to spend millions for someone to tell us this. We're still trying to figure out exactly how to get the kid into commercials... because she really is that cute and that full of personality. We'll keep you posted.

*Cecily is 2 weeks old and sleeps a lot (no complaints here)! She has been diagnosed with acid reflux, but is a pretty mellow child. We've already taken her to see a chiropractor and intend to continue to do so because we are not willing to live through 6 months of colic again (just covering our bases). She has a lot of hair, just like her sister did and she makes some really great faces when she dreams. We look forward to the insane amounts of love that will continue to fill our home with the new addition. We are overwhelmed.

I'm sure there are more things that occurred that are worth noting, but I am sleep-deprived and on pain meds, so I may have to add a "P.S." later. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and loo so very forward to continuing to hear from any & all of you as our lives continue to change in amazing ways!

"God Bless Us, Every One."

Can I Make A Long Story Short...?

Not likely.

Brevity is not a gift of mine.... and I really should be trying to get some sleep right now.

So - after a ridiculously stressful weekend involving performing at 2 Church socials (ward & stake) and hardly pulling it off because I'd been coughing severely for 2 weeks and had very little voice left....

... we checked into the hospital on Monday morning at 5:30 AM. I'd been up all night the 3 nights before, coughing my brains out. Let me tell you something about a severe cough and being pregnant.

It. Sucks.

My abdominal muscles had just about had it. When I was at the hospital, they had to send in the anesthesiologist to evaluate my cough to determine whether or not I really could go under that day (don't ask me why... they had given me a reason why... but I was exhausted and anxious, so who knows what they said). But they decided to give me the go ahead. So, after an IV (HATE THEM!) and a catheter (LOVE THEM!) they sent me into the OR for my spinal and the section. I started shaking frantically at that moment. I was basically already going into shock from the anticipation alone and I started to cry. I asked the nurse if it was ok for me to be crying like a baby even though I'd had one of these surgeries before. She assured me it was (probably lying, but reassuring nonetheless).

I had to stifle my cough as much as humanly possible during the spinal... probably the hardest part of the whole process. But once that thing kicked in... NIRVANA! I almost fell asleep during the surgery because it was the first time in weeks my body actually felt like it could relax. I could feel them pressing down at the top of my abdomen which was something they hadn't done with Malia due to her already heading through my cervix. With this surgery, she was nice and cozy so they had to shove her out.

After she was out, they wrapped her up and actually had a nurse run her over to me and lay her on my chest which was AWESOME! (something I hadn't been able to do with Malia). But then they had to rush her to the nursery while I was stitched back up. That takes a while. My OB later informed me that I had so much scar tissue from the first surgery that she had to really work around it... even remove some for my own safety as well as for the sake of having children in the future.

By the time I was moved back to my room, a nurse came in to inform me that my daughter was having respiratory problems. A few minutes after that, the pediatrician came in to say that she would have to stay in the nursery for 24 hours, at least. Apparently, the baby would start crying, but then just stop breathing all together and turn blue. I never saw any of this (probably a good thing). They had her on oxygen and were monitoring her closely as well as preparing her for an echo cardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). However, after one of her "blue bouts," she coughed up a lot of fluid and stopped having problems. This is common in planned c-sections, apparently, because with vaginal deliveries, most of the fluid has already left the womb before the baby is brought into this cold, cruel world. But with a c-section, they are pulled right out like a poor little amphibian without any warning, so they often ingest ridiculous amounts of fluid.


She still had to stay in the nursery for 24 hours, however, and so, 3 hours after my surgery, my AWESOME nurse came in with a wheelchair and said, "That baby needs her mama and you need to breastfeed, so let's try this." Basically, after a c-section, you're not supposed to really even attempt getting up for 6 hours, but my nurse knew it was important for me to be able to successfully breastfeed, and she also felt as if my little girl needed to feel her mommy.

So awesome.

It took 3 nurses and my husband to get me into a wheelchair, but they did it and she nursed like a champ! This routine happened every 3 hours, each time with a little more success of my moving independently than the last. I tell you, though - there is nothing like having someone tell you to move your legs, and for your brain to command them to move, and see nothing happen.

It. Is. Weird.

Well - after 24 hours, they let me have her in my room, and I was pretty much trapped there for 3 days (this is why c-sections suck). Talk about cabin fever. I sent David home every night to get real rest. Nights were hard because it was just me and the baby... and my wretched cough. That was the worst of the pain. Coughing and having searing, burning pain in your abdomen and then waiting for your intestines to burst through a gash in your body isn't really a "good time."

So, blah, blah, blah. Here's what you really came for:

Cecily Jeanette Nutter

Born December 8th, 2008 @ 7:44 AM via c-section
8 lbs. 7 ozs.
21" long
Blue eyes (almost silver)

Dark brown hair

... & so far, no signs of "the devil that shall not be named" (i.e. colic) although, she does have pretty bad acid reflux. But she's trying to be a trooper about it and we have medication that we have to give her every 6 hours.


Malia is trying very hard to transition. She has her moments. But, basically, now she just acts like any other kid her age instead of being 100% angel all of the time. So, I can't complain. She's doing her best. Mostly, I just think she gets sad whenever I tell her I can't carry her... especially since I'm always carrying the baby. And there are moments I'm with her that I have to jump up and interrupt whatever we're doing to tend to Cecily. She's definitely not used to sharing my attention. But she'll be a good sister. I think she's just currently disappointed that the playmate I brought home to her can't actually play yet.

*photos courtesy of my mother-in-law, April, who was so awesome and watched Malia for us while I was in the hospital.*

And then there were two...

Cecily Jeanette Nutter

Dave here on blog duty. We are proud to announce that Cecily has made it safely into the world!

Stats:

DOB: 12/8/2008 7:44 a.m.
8 lb 6 oz
21 inches
10 fingers, 10 toes
Soprano
Loves Mommy
Hates blood tests

Mother and baby are doing fine.

Here is a teaser photo until Tiff becomes available for a more complete and exciting play by play.

12/1/08

Dear Lili-bug,

I don't know how you do it. But you manage to win over the hearts of every person who comes in contact with you. This, you have not inherited from me. I'm sure your father would love to take credit, but if we're completely honest with ourselves, we just have to realize that, with you, we've been blessed. People of all ages from the very small to the very tall are enraptured the moment you give them that first precious grin. You're such a beautiful child on the outside, with your curls and your green eyes (and those ridiculously long eyelashes) ... but it seems to me they fall in love with something else. You really are a special spirit. There is such joy & love that exudes from your very nature that I truly do often feel like your spirit is much older than mine, and that I have much to learn from you.

Today, as you were playing at the "soft play place" at the mall, you saw two young girls giggling quietly in the corner. They must have been about 5 or 6. Despite still being just shy of 3-years-old, you skipped over with confidence, squatted right in between them and began to tell them about your upcoming birthday party and your future little sister. In most situations, when people are so rudely interrupted, they often find the intruder annoying and try to quickly remedy the situation by just walking away. Or, in the case of children, may begin shoving or yelling. But you've done this a few times now - approached older girls with confidence and excitement - and not once have you been rejected. They adore you immediately and spend the next 20 minutes listening to you blabber away or helping you run around on the things you are still a bit too small to attempt yourself. Like I said... you have some sort of gift.

About 2 weeks ago, when your father got home from work, I asked him to keep an eye on you as I "make friends with the toilet." When I came out of the restroom, you asked me, "Can I see your friends?" I couldn't help but guffaw with almost-embarrassment, and then had to inform you that they'd been flushed. A couple days later, as you were using the toilet, you bent over to look between your legs at what you had just produced. Then you smiled up at me and said, "See? My poops are best friends! They're talkin' & playin'!" It took me a while to recover from that one. You really are incredibly observant of every little thing I say and your memory is INSANE! Unfortunately for me, my inability to censor is definitely starting to bite me in the.... gluteous maximus.

Your 3rd birthday is in just over a week. Unfortunately, the c-section of your little sister is scheduled for 2 days before that. So, we are throwing you a small birthday party this weekend to make up for it. For the last month you've requested a "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" party. But, last week, when you discovered that you could get your face-painted like a fairy at Downtown Disney, you changed your mind and have begged (well, demanded) it be a Tinkerbell party, and you are so intensely excited. It makes me happy to do it for you as you grin and dance with glee every time the words "birthday party " & "fairies" are uttered in the same sentence.

You've been surprisingly giving as far as your future sister is concerned. I've taken books, toys, & clothes from your room into her nursery in plain sight of you, and you smile and say, "Those are for Cecily!" And you didn't even budge. At my baby shower, a woman asked me how you were going to react when seeing all the presents I brought home, and none of them for you. I told her you'd probably be fine, and she smiled and said, "Oh, sure!" You impressed me yet again as, not only were you "fine," but you actually helped me sort things and put them in the nursery without even considering that none of it was for you. It's as if you are already aware of your place as the big sister who will love and cherish your little sister and do whatever it takes (even sacrifice your things) for her good. I only hope it lasts...

... I don't count on it.

All day today you've been reminding me that Daddy & I promised to take you to visit Santa & have your picture taken with him for FHE. Truth is, this is pretty much the only chance we'd have to do it. We have so much going on this week with Church/Christmas/Music, that this evening was literally the only option we'd have before the baby was born. However, as I was making dinner, and your father had his back turned for 5 seconds, we heard a loud *THUD!* and found you lying on the tile floor, wailing in misery. You had smacked the middle of your forehead right on the ground and there was an immediate injury to be seen. We took you to see Santa anyway. We figured, hey, you're almost 3-years-old. You wouldn't be a "toddler" without at least one of those kinds of photos. So after a little bit of (unsuccessful) make-up, you visited Santa and didn't hesitate to request the dance shoes I've brainwashed you into asking for.

2006

2007

2008

Malia, your life is about to change just as drastically as your parents' with this new arrival. I can't imagine how it's possible, but am sure that we will love her as much as we love you... which is quite infinite. I only hope you know that's the case, as I'm a little concerned you won't feel as loved with less doting. You're such a strong spirit, however, and I've already learned over and over that your capacity for forgiveness and love is leaps & bounds more advanced than my own.

You'll probably be just fine. (I'm crossing my fingers, anyway).

Love, Mommy