Levi Russell Shaw

2 days old

A few hours old
Jordyn felt the need to wink at the camera
Just minutes old: Father and Son
We're so happy to finally have Levi here with us. He was born on Wed. March 10th at 4:39pm. Everything went pretty smoothly. The moment we saw it was a boy was very exciting and met all my expectations. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life and Jeff agrees. You can see just how elated Jeff is in the picture of him and Levi. Levi weighed 7lbs. 12 oz. and was 20.5 inches. We came home from the hospital last night. Today he has pooped about 6-7 times, eats like a champ, and is sleeping when he isn't eating or pooping. I find joy in staring at him, holding him next to me, watching him sneeze, kissing him, touching his soft cheeks, and trying to change a diaper without getting squirted on. I can't believe he was inside of me just 3 days ago. It doesn't seem possible. The whole experience is a miracle and I'm so grateful to be part of it. I hope to treasure the simple and quiet moments of my time with each of my children and of Levi while he is so small and perfect.

The time is near

The time is coming. The long 40 weeks of anticipation is here and I couldn't be anymore excited. I feel like a giddy school girl ready to start school the next day or like a child knowing Santa Claus will be coming to my house via the chimney tomorrow or the day before I got married. All of these scenarios made it impossible for me to sleep the night before and once I did get to sleep I woke nearly every hour looking at the clock to see if it was time for me to get up. Today my mom is flying here, Jeff is off work for the next 6 weeks, and I'm ready to go (bag is packed, newborn clothes washed, house cleaned, and eager to see what are new family dynamics will look and feel like). We decided to have me be induced tomorrow so that is the reason I'm talking about things happening tomorrow. The reason(s) for the induction is probably what you can guess: with 2 kids already I wanted to plan around my mom being here so I didn't have to make an unpleasant call to a friend at 3am telling her my water broke and if she could come watch my kids. Another reason is that my birthday is coming up and I don't think my child would want to share the same birthday. That's a dumb reason, but it's the same reason why I wouldn't want my child to be born on Christmas day.

So what do you think I'm having? I wonder the same thing. Right now I will take a gander and say, "BOY." Over Christmas vacation I had some family members guess the day, gender, time of day, height, and weight. Whomever comes closest with those categories will get the first phone call of our big news. I know it's kindof silly, but I like making things "fun" like that. So take a guess and soon when I get the chance, your inquiring minds will know what's been growing inside my belly for the past 40 weeks as I post pictures.

Belly, Bust, and Beyond

My friend took some pictures of me pregnant. I haven't done this with the other girls and I don't know how many kids we'll have so I wanted to capture my body, bust and beyond at full term. I don't plan on hanging these pictures up around my house and/or showing the others outside of my blog. I've always felt a little awkward with the whole pregnancy picture thing, maybe that's why I haven't done it before. Most of the pictures I saw online were with nude women and and there aren't a whole lot of poses. The cheesy poses i.e. the hubby "listening" to the belly make me laugh out loud. You're probably thinking I'm a cold, heartless mom right now. That's not it at all. I love when my kids and hubby talk and love on the baby, but trying to capture it w/ a picture seems to come out cheesy and not authentic. Anyway, I'll probably make my personal maternity scrapbook because I will want to see and reflect on my pregnancy. I'm thankful I can have this miraculous experience of conceiving life. It's a blessing and honor. Unfortunately I take it for granted. I hope having pictures of all sorts (even the cheesy ones) and writing about my thoughts and feelings will always remind me of the sacred opportunity to carry and bear life. Although I can't wait to hold and look into the eyes of my child and get back into my old clothes, I will miss my belly hitting into things. I will miss feeling the baby move inside, I will miss hearing the heart beat at the doctor, I will miss the anticipation of its' coming, I will miss my belly being a conversation starter, and I will miss seeing my body transform before my eyes because of the growth of the baby-- just another testimony to me that God is the Creator of all things.

Size Small?

The other day I went to the mall (my first time in Anchorage since I know they don't have a play area for kids. I don't understand why all malls don't have a little play area for kids). I went to Motherhood Maternity for a shirt. Of course I grabbed a large, cuz HELLO I'm really large. To my surprise I was swimming in it. The women handed me a small, which was still a little big. I was flattered and for a second believed I was small, but who am I kidding. Almost all 8 month prego girls are not small. Why is there such a size? It should really be SXL (Small for the eXtra Large person). So it got me thinking....these are reasons I KNOW I'm not a small.
1. When I ask my girls to take my shoes and socks off because it's hard to reach that far, I KNOW I'm not a small.
2. When I can't see my feet because my stomach is in the way, I KNOW I'm not a small.
3. When I need elastic on my jeans because a zipper is just out of the question, I KNOW I'm not a small.
4. When I take a break half way up a flight of stairs because I'm already winded, I KNOW I'm not a small.
5. When I weigh more than my hubby, I KNOW I'm not a small. (not like he's a big person or anything just weighs a lot more than I usually do).
6. When Sydney tells me I'm "big," I KNOW I'm not a small.
7. When I have to scoot my drivers seat back because my tummy is hitting the steering wheel, I KNOW I'm not a small.
8. When I need to put a napkin on my tummy because my shirt would get dirty if food fell on it because it sticks out so much, I KNOW I'm not a small.
So although the "SMALL" felt good for a second, it didn't fool me. I'm maybe a small on the Extra Large spectrum and I'm good with that.... for right now. I won't be okay with that 6 months from now.

Miss Jordyn

Yesterday Miss Jordyn had her 2 yr. doctors visit, although it's been 2 months since her b-day. She weighs 27.4 lbs which is the 50th percentile and is 3 feet tall which is the 90th percentile. Here are some cheesy pictures of our Jordyn. She brings much laughter and entertainment to our lives, definitely an actress and a ham.

My "pregnancy moments"

While I've been pregnant, I've had some "brain fart" moments where my mind doesn't think. Here are a few that I can remember.
1. Taking a shower w/ my glasses on and not realizing they were on until they steamed up.
2. Placing the ice cream container in the fridge.
3. Squirting face cleanser on my toothbrush instead of toothpaste.
4. Calling Jeff, "Mom."
5. Confusing myself into thinking that 30 times 10= 3000. That wouldn't be so much of a brain fart if I hadn't been a high school math teacher at one point in my life.
Then there are a million times when I go into a room w/ a purpose and completely forget why I went in there, but that even happens when I'm not prego.

In 50 Years...

It's pretty disturbing but this gives you a good idea of what I may look like in 50 years. I asked jeff if he will still love me if I look like this in 50 years. There was lots of laughing and pictures taken with this old man mask. We were bored one January afternoon and this brightened the moment.


This is what Sydney will look like but with a bigger body and maybe less pink in her outfit in 50 years.

My mom in 50 years. She'll be older than 100, but she looks pretty healthy and happy otherwise.

Scroll down further if you'd like to see some pictures from our time in California and Cedar City.

Third Trimester

So I'm 32 weeks now. Do I say I'm 8 months even though I have 2 more months to go? I tell myself 8 months because it makes me feel better considering how large I am. My gait is a little awkward now, more of a waddle, because my lower back aches somewhat when I get up from sitting down. My hands get a tingling sensation more easily, I think an onset of carpel tunnel, like my other pregnancies, sleeping is more difficult as I desperately search for a comfortable position, and of course I'm dying to pee every hour it seems like. At this point, I'm sick of pregnancy clothes and look forward to the day when I can burn them. Wow, apparantly at 8 months I'm incurring some hostility, I'll blame hormones for that. So I guess now that I realized my emotional state, I should write down some of my blessings. I don't have gestational diabetes. My pregnancy isn't high risk. I'm with family instead of being home alone in AK since Jeff is back to work and traveling. I've never had to be "bed rested." I'm not throwing up anymore. I've realized that I miss my old B cup bra size and have realized that I would never want a boob job, so that just saved us thousands of dollars :) The baby is still moving a lot and I love that feeling no matter what time of day it is. I can't wait until the baby arrives finally revealing itself to us: the gender and what he/she looks like...So EXCITED!

California

Disneyland

On Dumbo

Some Resting Time

Party Time

Beach

San Diego Temple

Seaworld

It was so nice to be in California. The weather alone was worth the drive. It was heavenly to wear flip flops, shorts, and have the girls wear the same thing without having to sport boots, pants, gloves, heavy jackets, and beanies on them. We drove to San Diego. As we got closer to the ocean you could smell and feel the moisture in the air. The girls loved (which is an understatement) staying in a hotel for a couple days. San Diego was fun. We saw all the shows and most of the marine life available to us. Of course the favorite was the Shamu show. I don't thinnk Jordyn's eyes blinked once. She was riveted with what she saw there. In the morning we had to take a break as I realized Syndey was suffering from an ear infection. Thankfully I have an awesome friend, who just lives a few houses down from us in AK, who is also my children's pediatrician. We called her and she faxed a perscription of antibiotics. A few hours later we were back at the park ready to go.
Then we drove to La Habra and stayed at a friends house while they were out of town. We attended Grandma Marianne's annual New Year's Eve party. It is always a treat to go to that party to see and catch up with family, eat, play games, open presents, and watch the grandkids play with each other. Luckily the girls had a great long and late nap and stayed up till midnight. We then quickly crashed after that. Jeff's cousin hooked us up with free Disneyland tickets. We went there with other family members. I wish I could've gone on the rides. This was the first time that Sydney went on the "big" rides. She measured just at 40 inches which allows her to go on many of the big rides. We got to the park as soon as it opened and did many of the kid rides. Jordyn loved them as well. Jeff's dad came and with his handy handicap pass we were able to cut in front of many lines. So Jeff, Sydney, Tim, Tyler, Katherine, and Rachel went on Splash Mountain, being Sydney's first big ride. She absolutely loved it. From that point on, all she wanted to go on were the roller coaster rides. She went on Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Pirates, and Soarin' Over Cali. and she would've gone on more. Parenting is even more enjoyable as I see Sydney getting bigger and doing things that me and Jeff do too. We love visiting our family and friends in So cal and were sad to leave not knowing when the next time we'll see them again.
Since we've been back to Cedar City, Sydney has gone skiing two more times. She is a stud. She goes to the top of the mountain, refuses help to get off the lift wanting to do it all by herself and successfully gets down the mountain by doing her wedges and making her turns. She actually shows off when she skis under the lift. She's learned that if she does jumps and skis under the "slow sign", people from the lift will cheer for her. She loves when people cheer for her. People throughout the day ask how old she is and comments how good she is. I wish I could go with her but she's had treasured alone moments with Jeff and my parents. Jeff just left yesterday to AK to work for a wee and then he's off traveling so I decided to stay with my parents for another week and a half while he is traveling.

Christmas TIme

Horseback Riding

Shooting Range

Swimming

SUU basketball games and gymnastic meets

Snow Skiing







Jordyn's 2nd birthday

Christmas time really involves the whole month of December so here I am writing down the fun things we did in and around Christmas time. We flew to utah. I flew by myself with the girls. We went right before Jordyn turned 2 so we didn't have to pay for her ticket. I was scared for the long day and flight ahead of us, but it went as well as could've been expected. Mostly entertained by things I brought on the flight and only one meltdown by Miss Jordyn which was right before she finally fell asleep.
We flew to Utah to spend some time with my parents. Jeff came a week later. It was so nice to be with family and miss the huge snow storm that hit Alaska soon after I left. My dad took me on a date which was awesome. We went to dinner and a performance. What can I say, a few hours without my kids and entertainment is bliss and an added bonus was free babysitting (thanks mom). We saw a live navitity at Touchan in St. George and celebrated Jordyn's 2nd birthday. On her birthday she opened a few gifts and we went to see the Disney movie "Princess and a Frog" followed by some ice cream cake to eat. My mom and I drove up to visit my sister in Highland with the girls. The girls slept very little and played very much with their cousins. Jeff took Sydney snow skiing several times at Brianhead. She went last year but being that she had just turned 3 she still wasn't able to follow directions or execute those directions quite as well as she did this year. What a year a difference makes. She got the "pizza wedge" thing down, but prefers to go fast and keep her skis like "french fries." Don't get me wrong, she still need lots of practice, but she did awesome. The girl has no fear, which is the scary part, and even after she fell she got right back up and kept going. Kids 6 and under are free and so are there rentals so when I go back up to Utah, we're in Cali now, my parents will take her a few more times. I would love to go with her, but since I'm 7 1/2 months pregnant, it wouldn't be the best choice to do that. Sydney also loved to go snow tubing at Brianhead too. Christmas came and we set cookies and milk out for santa and wrote a letter. In the morning the girls opened up their presents and santa gave Sydney what she asked for....a blow up princess castle. The girls love playing with it. I gave Jeff the blog book I made, which turned out pretty good for the price I paid (I plan on doing that in the years to come too) and my yearly video I made of each girl and then us as a family that we watch after we open presents. I love that little tradition. It great to look back on the year of all the things we've done and what the girls have accomplished. Santa brought us a new video camera. Brooke and her fmaily came that night for dinner and my brother and his family came the next morning and all of us went skiing at Brianhead again.
Yesterday we drove to San Diego. Today we're going to Seaworld and plan on going to Disneyland next Monday. Jeff's family lives down here and we plan on spending a week with them. Jeff's grandma has a big new year's eve party at her house every year and we always look forward to that. I'll update our california trip when I'm back in utah.