{April 12, 2013}

My baby boy's birthday.

What a special day. 

We checked into the hospital the night before (April 11th) at 8:00 but by the time they got me all hooked up it was about 10:00 pm. That was a long, sleepless night. How could I sleep?? Never mind that I was super uncomfortable and the nurse came in every 10 minutes to adjust the monitors that the baby kept kicking off my tummy, but I was going to meet my son the next day and could have exploded from excitement and nervousness. 

To make a long story short, once morning came I started progressing pretty quickly. The doctor manually broke my water (strangest. feeling. ever.), I immediately requested my epidural and after only one extremely painful contraction the drugs kicked in and I was feeling gooood. Thank heavens for modern day medicine!!

After 7 1/2 hours of "active labor", and 2 hours of pushing (yikes!) I heard the beautiful cries of my precious baby boy. 

{{Beau Nicholas Anderson}}

April 12, 2013
3:27 pm

8 lbs. 7 oz. -- 21 1/2 inches

♥

 Joy, relief, excitement, peace, beauty, spiritual, pride, love, pure happiness. There are not enough words to describe that moment. It's an absolute miracle. A little piece of heaven right there in that hospital room.

Our first family photo.

Proud Daddy

Our wonderful doctor-- Dr. Zwiesler. We love him! 

Just kickin' it with Dad.

Head over heels in love.

Ready to go home!

  >>>A HUGE thanks to my wonderful Mom for taking 10 days from her busy life to come be with me. I'm so glad she got to be there for the birth of my son and that he got to meet her on his very first day of life. I am so blessed to have her as my mom.<<<

Beau LOVES his Grandma Lisa

"Um, Grandma? Did you see how strong I am?"

Needless to say, Nick and I are beyond obsessed with this precious babe. Our world quickly started to revolve around him and we realized that our lives and hearts would never be the same.

Thank you for joining our family Beau Nicholas Anderson.

We love you with all of our hearts.

♥

Pregnancy.

Tonight I go in to the hospital to be induced. I can't believe it's finally happening...literally, I can't believe it. I feel like I'm walking around in a daze and I'm never going to meet my baby. I can't wrap my head around having a child by tomorrow night but I can day dream about not being pregnant anymore. 

What an amazing, hard, life changing, exciting, emotional, fun, sweet, chubby, swollen, thrilling, rewarding experience this has been. Everyone told me that the first pregnancy drags on and that these would be the longest 9 months of my life. Sure, April seemed like a life time away when I found out I was pregnant in August but the time has actually flown by! I just took it day by day and tried to enjoy every stage of pregnancy...even that yucky first trimester. 

I must admit that these last two months have been hard. I saw an amazing ultrasound of my baby at 33 weeks and ever since then the time has dragged. >>You tell me, could you sit and wait patiently for another two months if you saw that this was the beautiful face of the baby growing inside your tummy??<<

I didn't think so. Already 5 1/2 pounds and looking oh so yummy with his double chin and dimple. Mm! 

Once I got over the fact that I had to wait so much longer, the super uncomfortable stage of pregnancy kicked in. I had heard all about it and seen my sisters in law go through it but I just never understood. All I'm going to say about that is I can't wait for the day (2 days!!) until I can roll over in bed without grunting and getting short of breath, until no heartburn, until my ankles don't look like they have elephantitis, until I can leave my house wearing something other than the slippers that my dear friend, Destiny, so graciously let me borrow (okay fine, I stole them), and until I can go out in public without getting a million stares and questions about my pregnancy! ((Side note: WHY do strangers think that since I'm pregnant I want to talk to them all about my pregnancy and hear their life story?! At first I didn't mind that much... but when I'm waddling around Wal-Mart swollen, 9 months pregnant, and trying not to make eye contact with anyone, it really isn't fun to hear "Oh wow, you're going to pop!"))

I'm starting to sound negative and that's not how I feel at all. I truly have loved being pregnant. There is no greater feeling in the world than feeling your sweet baby kick and move around inside your body. It's just indescribable. What a special gift that we, as women, have to grow, feel, and give life to a child. Such a blessing!

12 weeks

15 weeks

17 weeks

19 weeks

21 weeks-- I had to show Nick my growing belly over Facetime for a month. He couldn't believe his eyes.

25 weeks-- that shirt hid my belly pretty well.

28 weeks

31 weeks

32 weeks

37 weeks

38 weeks-- Easter Sunday

So here we go! After months of excitement, preparation and lots of growing, stretching, and swelling tonight is finally the night!! We can't wait to finally meet our precious baby boy! ♥ 

Life in Spokane

{{Clearly, we must be keeping ourselves busy since I have neglected this poor blog once again. Sorry about that.}}

Most of our time is spent at school (Nick), hanging out with our friends, or getting things ready for the baby. Pretty simple life and we love it.

Right after we got back from winter break Nick was able to go the Gonzaga vs. St. Mary's game with his guys friends. Unfortunately, the wives couldn't get tickets. Bummer. This year the Bulldogs got all the way up to #1 in the rankings! We were so sad to see them get eliminated right before the sweet 16 but it was sure fun to be #1 while it lasted. Go Zags!

Free shirts at the game!

Destiny and I were watching the game at home and spotted the boys on ESPN! We were super excited about it.

As I mentioned before, whenever Nick and I get a day off from his school/studying we are getting things ready for the baby. After shopping shopping and more shopping, drilling holes in walls, rearranging furniture, figuring out insurance, registering at the hospital, installing the car seat into the car, and a lot more that I'm forgetting... we are finally ready for this little angel to get here!

Daddy doing what daddy's do. Love that handy man.

Baby's room is finally done! Our new favorite place to hang out.

Baby dumbbell aka rattle. Nick's idea of an essential for his son.

Hospital bag packed and ready for action.

My girlfriends have been helping me get ready for this baby too!... 

Mani/pedi with Destiny and Alyssa. Mandatory for giving birth.

And the funnest TRIPLE baby shower thrown by the funnest friends. 

Alyssa (baby girl due April 6), Callie (baby girl due June 16) and Me (baby boy due April 15)

>>There are babies/pregnancies galore up here in Spokane!<< All the law school wives are either pregnant, about to pop (me and Alyssa), or just had a baby. There must be something in the water. It is so much fun to all be going through the same stage of life together and always so exciting to see who will be next!

Friends = Family up here. We really have the greatest group of friends. There is always something to do or someone to hang out with and everyone gets a long...it's always so much fun to get everyone together.

My new favorite restaurant--Frank's Diner. In a cute, old, train car and has the best breakfast food EVER. I'm obsessed.

Alyssa, Brady, Chase, Destiny, Baby Paige, Nick, Me, Josh, and Kelsie. We took up the whole restaurant, it's fine.

We are loving life up here (especially since the snow has finally gone away!) and we feel so blessed. Great school, best friends and a precious baby boy coming any day. What more could we ask for?

Baby Shower!

While Nick and I were home for Christmas break my mom, sisters, and best friend threw me the {{cutest baby shower ever.}} I can't believe how many friends and loved ones came to help celebrate this baby boy. We definitely got spoiled and are still getting spoiled by all the packages that are being sent up here to Washington! Thank you for the fun laughs at the shower. Thank you for all the thoughtful gifts and advice. And a major thank you to Mom, Brooke, Hayley, Nina, Leslie, and Lane for throwing me the best shower! We loved it. :)

The invitation and darling party favor. All the decorations ((and even the M&M's)) coordinated with that cute invitation.... it was perfect!

.friends & family.

Lane.Michelle.Destiny.(missing a picture with Carlee)--SO lucky to have besties like these girls.

Lots of gifts!

I was way too excited about every gift I opened...pretty sure I cried with a few. Hormones.

My favorite girls in the world-- mom & sisters. ♥

The most wonderful time of the year.

After our unbearable long month of being separated, Nick and I were finally reunited in Utah. It felt so good to be together again. 

There had been some major growth while I was away...

19 weeks vs 23weeks

I was barely showing when I had left Nick and had turned into big mama by the time I saw him again. >>Baby boy hit a pretty big growth spurt that month.<< Nick couldn't believe his eyes. I would catch him just staring at my baby belly in disbelief. Haha. It's fine, he's used to it by now.

We had a wonderful Christmas in Utah. We got to spend lots of time with Nick's family and even got to spend a couple of days with my extended family.

We had 2 weddings in 3 days in the Pinegar family. It was such a treat to see everyone and celebrate the marriages of two of my cousins. I just ♥ love... and weddings. There is something so special about being in the temple with so much family. Just a sweet feeling that can never be explained.

My sweet cousin, Spencer, married the beautiful McKenna 

The Petersons ♥

and then, 2 days later... 

my gorgeous cousin, Allison, married her sweetheart- Tom! They are two perfect additions to the family. :)

The Busicos ♥

Nelson family (minus Derek, Linds and the boys) at the gorgeous Salt Lake Temple

After all the wedding festivities it was time to head up to Ogden and have some Anderson family time and celebrate Christmas!!

Celebrating Kirsten's birthday! 

Nick & Luke with their good friend Carl

sweetest Grandma & Grandpa Forster

Lots of snuggling, watching movies, and playing games

CHRISTMAS!! So many great gifts... Angie was reeeally excited about the Phillip Phillips CD we gave her. ;)

And the very best part....

Finding out Meg is pregnant!! We are so so happy for them and this baby boy is SO excited to have an Anderson cousin so close in age! :)

Angie.Jim.Kirsten.Lucas.Chris.Meg.Baby Anderson.Nick.Paige.Baby Anderson-- We missed Gretchen & Maddie so much!!

We love being with Nick's family and cherish the time that we get to spend together, since we are spread out over the country. Can't wait until next time!
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The day after Christmas Nick and I flew down to Vegas to spend time with my family and soak up some sunshine for a week, before heading back to Spokane for school. 

It felt good to be home. We had too much fun..

Visiting the Bellagio gardens:

Obsessing over our adorable nieces & nephews:

Taking family pictures:

And celebrating New Year's Eve with the Pittsenbargers:

Ping Pong tournament.

Enjoying the fireworks from the amazing few at Destiny's parent's house.

We were so grateful to be able to spend a long, fun holiday vacation with our families. It was just what we needed and the only way we would want to spend our Christmas break.