23

My Birthday

Getting older is not always something to look forward to. My special day, however, is. I was completely spoiled this year. Being a full-time mom now is a lot of work. It's hard to find a straight uninterrupted hour for just time to yourself. So I enjoyed a very selfish ME day.

I woke up early to enjoy my day as long as possible. I colored my hair, showered and got ready... for four hours. It was awesome. I got to have big, crazy, curly hair and wear a ton of make-up. My dream. I put on my pink dress and little wedges and we were off to Scottsdale mall. Any time I want to do real shopping, I go here. 

Gav had saved some extra money for my special day so that I could pick up some sweet things. First Urban Outfitters, then Nordstrom, lunch, Dillards, Sephora and FINALLY Steve Madden. I say finally because I have been wanting these shoes since practically Christmas. (The hard part about having a March birthday is you have 2 months of wanting something you didn't get for Christmas. Life is rough, I know.) So I got my leopard loafers I had been fantasizing about every night on my iPhone. I also got a shirt from Dillards and a shirt from Nordstrom. Best day ever. I say this because if you have ever shopped with me you know this: I never. buy. anything. Which is great for my husband but bad for my wardrobe. I always look for the greatest deal for the perfect item that I love and obsess about before I buy it. So obviously I rarely walk away with a bag in my hand. Not today. 

My sisters and mom came to meet us at the mall. Only I believe they got slightly distracted by all the stores and forgot they were there to meet up with us. Haha. Who can blame five girls? But we did get to visit with them for a bit as we were leaving. Luckily, my sis Honore, always thinks about taking pictures so we were able to snap these.

After we got home from the mall we got to go to Ben Whipple's house. He was having all the friends over for games and pizza. To my surprise Josh and his wife Elba got me an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Score! Such a fun time hanging with our fellow "Fatheads."

The next day I woke up in the greatest mood. Taught my Sunbeam kids at church, then came home to Ashley making my favorite dinner. Oh, and "Zebra Popcorn." De-lish. Tami got me a gift card to Nordstrom! (Later I would purchase the cutest baby TOMS for Gram.) Then off to my parents house for cake. 

(Pics from thruston cam)

Seriously, I'm so blessed to have the perfect husband, sweetest baby, loving family and hilarious friends.

Best. Birthday. Ever. 

Valentine's Day

This year Tami had a great idea. She wanted to throw a Valentine's party at the house for our families. So she did. We had all of the Guthrie siblings (the ones who live here) come and bring their significant other, if they had one. My parents came as well. We served Italian which is my favorite and the most romantic. I made sugar cookies and Three Cheese Chicken Alfredo Bake which I found on Pinterest. I highly suggest making this dish for any carb-cravin', chicken lovin', cheese eatin' husbands out there. The rest of us women can stick with a salad. Haha.

Since we were busy preparing for this dinner party, Gav and I didn't have a chance to go out on our own. So, the following week my sweet sister, Lyric, came over to babysit Mr. Gram. So nice! My husband got to take me out to Firebird's in Chandler. It's a steak place that is AMAZING. Clearly my favorite but seriously expensive. The salmon is to die for. It's a rare occasion we get time alone so this was such a treat! We came home to a giggling baby and smiling little sister. Wow. I was thinkin' he'd be screaming when we got home. Quite the opposite I didn't wanna take her home because Gram couldn't stop laughing at her. *Auntie crush* She's the new babysitter for sure.

This Valentine's Day was perfect. Date with the hubs, sugar cookies, roses, and kisses. What else does a wife need? Oh yeah. Diamonds. Maybe next year...

[Auntie Lyric with Mr. Smiles]

{Gav and I ready for our date}

Wisconsin

[Mama and Gram at 3 months old]

Gram and I were lucky enough to go visit my sister-in-law, Hanna, and her family in Wisconsin. Tami was already going to visit her. So since Hanna wouldn't get to see Gram until he was a lot older, we tagged along too. Hanna's husband Kyle is doing his residency there as a doctor. Since my husband wants to be a doctor as well, I would kinda get a glimpse of what it's like when your husband's a doctor. 

We arrived in Wisconsin with a windchill of about -20 degrees below zero. Ouch. So needless to say we stayed in doors a lot. Who cares! When you can see this family and get to stay and play with them for an entire week, you don't mind a bit. I've missed this family a lot. We did get some fun shopping in and of course visited a cheese factory. Hanna is fun to shop with. Especially since she kinda looks like me and we wear the same size. I would just eye ball the clothes on her and see if they would work for me, too. Haha. We also started refinishing Hanna's kitchen cabinets. Gorgeous! My favorite part was watching Hanna do it all. She takes care of her five children while Kyle's at work in different clinics. She makes all the meals (with some of McDonald's help), cleans the house, and does her medical transcribing at night after the kids are asleep. I could hardly handle my one child who had a cold. Maybe this is a sign I should stop at one? 

{He prefers Mountain Dew but we were fresh out}

We were so lucky that Hanna has an amazing photographer friend. They set up a photo shoot for Gram and I. I literally cried three times. I was so happy to get professional photos of Gram. He was already three months! They turned out beautifully and I couldn't be happier.

  

The one on the left is Gram, obviously. The one on the right is me at the same age. Can you see the similarities? He's definitely my child. So, I was especially grateful to get this photo taken of him since it's so similar to mine.

I had so much fun I can't wait for Hanna and her family to come visit us this summer!

Goodbye 2011... Hello 2012!

New Year's Party

This year my in-laws threw a party at their house. Friends and family came to eat, play games, and visit. We had all sorts of treats and snacks. It's always fun when my family can come over and hang out with my in-laws. 

Baby Gram was already asleep by then. He wants to "end the party at 11:00." Haha. 

2011 was an incredible year for us. 

January- We decided to get pregnant and actually got pregnant!

February- We found out we were pregnant and had our first ultrasound done.

(pic)

March- It was my birthday so we got our friends and family together to celebrate. We had a BBQ get together at Kiwanis park in Tempe. 

(add more pics)

I told my family we were pregnant that day as well. Sooo scary, but they were so excited for us. :)

We then went to Las Vegas with our cousin Jake and his wife Jourdan. First time to Vegas being over 21. Not that I gamble.

April- Nothing cool happened that I can remember. Haha

May- Gavin graduated ASU!! So proud of him! We also took a trip to Mexico with Gav's family. We stayed in Rocky Point on a private beach Tami arranged for us. Best way to vacay! 

June- We celebrated our 3rd year of marriage. Wow does time fly by! I also switched from a doctor to a midwife. Bring on the natural birthing!

July- Gavin started his Kaplan prep course for his MCAT exam.

August- Celebrated Gavin's 26th birthday. We also moved out of our Tempe apartment back to Mesa. So glad to feel at home again.

September- Gavin took his big MCAT test. What an accomplishment that is! I enjoyed my beautiful baby shower at Susie Merwin's house. Her and my mom threw the party. 

October- Had our hospital tour. Mercy Gilbert is very pro natural births which is why we chose that hospital. Then it was a waiting game. Then it was game time! Gave birth to the most perfect thing on earth, our baby Gavin Gram! We dressed him up as a monkey and took him home from the hospital. He was also a monkey for Halloween 10 days later. The Whipple's invited us to their annual Halloween bash. We only live across the street so of course we went!

November- Getting used to having a new addition in our lives. Went up North for Thanksgiving quadding and shooting with the Guthrie's. Then to my parent's house for Thanksgiving dinner!

December- Christmas of course!! Shopping, wrapping, family and food. What else do you need? 

All in all that was an amazing year. I'm so blessed to have my family and friends in my life. 

Oh Christmas Time

Christmas 2011!

This year we went up to Pinetop with the Guthries. We left the Friday before Christmas and arrived at almost 3 the next morning. If you bring enough bottles, traveling with a newborn is pretty easy. The whole Guthrie clan was there minus Missionary Dax and the Hunter's. Christmas Eve we sat around and lounged! Yes! We baked Santa's cookies, rode the rhino, and made homemade chicken noodle soup. Soup is a Guthrie tradition on Christmas Eve. After a last minute Walmart run, we wrapped the rest of our presents. Before we knew it, the day was over and it was time for Christmas jammies!! Gram got the cutest pair of red monkey jams. He soon vomited on them! (Oops, mom must have been eating a lot of junk food this weekend!)

[Gram in his new Christmas jammies with his daddy]

{The Guthrie cousin's}

Christmas morning we made breakfast and opened the rest of our presents. Since Gram was such a good boy this year (easy pregnancy, easy delivery, and easy 2 months of life), Santa brought him his first Michael Jordan shoes! Size 3, how adorable! It came with a matching beanie. He also received a new hoodie outfit and play toys from Gramma G. Gav got Michael Jordan sweatpants and Gucci Guilty cologne. De-lish! My husband gave me the Flowerbomb giftset!! Heaven's scent in a bottle! Later that day, we built gingerbread houses and rode the rhino. Gav and I ran off the rode and got the rhino stuck. We even had to get the winch out to move it out of the snow! Haha. All in all, It was a GREAT Christmas!!

{So happy it's Christmas}

[The Guthrie Clan]

 

Monday went packed up and drove to my parents house. Howard had been in town and I've been so excited to see him! He finally got to meet Gram. It's fun seeing other people's facing when it hits them we actually have a child. Haha. We exchanged gifts and played games. Everyone spoiled Gram with new outfits and toys. Then of course we ate a ton of candy. I always trick Fifi and tell her Gram likes a certain candy, then eat it behind her back! I love holidays with my family.

(Howard meeting Baby Gram)



(The WHOLE Thruston Family)

 

Having our own little family made it the best Christmas ever. 

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 Every year for the past 30 years or so my father-in-laws family goes up to Sycamore for camping, shooting, quadding, and breakfast. Now, our family just meets everyone up there in the morning instead of camping. We have a blast every year! It was exciting bringing our baby for all the relatives to see. 

In the afternoon we went over to my mom's house for dinner. I brought home made cheesecakes! After my mom's house we went to visit our friends and show them our new baby.
Then, we joined the Guthrie's and Passey's (my husband's mom's side of the family) for round two. After they eat dinner they spend the rest of the evening going through the newspaper looking for deals. If you know any Passey girl you know how much they love to SHOP! They stay up Black Friday shopping then get breakfast in the morning when they are done. This year I stayed up all night but for different reasons. LOL. Gav, Gram and I headed out in the evening and found some cute baby clothes! I've never been Black Friday shopping but in the evening it's not that bad.

{My Step Grandma Jolene holding Baby Gram}

[My sister Charity's Pie]

(So excited for his Thanksgiving Feast! ... Milk again?)

{New church shirt from Black Friday} 

Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!

Gavin Gram Guthrie

[Thruston Kids - Howard + Gram]

My natural unmedicated child birth was a success! On October 22nd (41 weeks exactly) I woke up at 5:30 am. At about 6:00 am I started having strong birthing waves. I walked around the house and took a shower in those next two hours. I had Gavin call my midwife to inform her that I was in my birthing time. Towards the end of the phone call I was having birthing waves 3-5 minutes apart (I didn't time them exactly. I was a bit busy... you know, having them). I knew I was in transition. 

I wanted to stay home as long as possible before going to the hospital. 

I did. My birthing time progressed very quickly. 

THUNDER CATS ARE GO!!

We left for the hospital at about 7:45. We got there at 8:15. Good thing we took the "race car" as Gavin calls it. It wasn't an ideal time to be stuck in a car.

When we pulled up to the entrance I felt like my baby was going to fall out! I was rushing to the wheel chair saying "My baby's coming out!!" The nurse helping us freaked! We basically skipped signing in/registering since I kept saying this phrase. They hurried me to triage where we were met by the most amazing nurse, Joni. I asked her if I could have the room with the birthing tub (there's only one at Mercy Gilbert). My wonderful midwife already reserved it for us. :) I sat on the bed and she strapped the monitors on me to check how Gram was handling everything. I wanted to push him out! I didn't have time to be monitored. She checked to see how dilated and effaced I was. I was at 7cm. YES! As she was finishing up, my water broke. Umm...YES?! She asked if i wanted to labor in the tub. It wasn't finished being filled up yet and I knew I didn't have time for that. While she was getting everything ready, I kept telling her I need to get up and push! She said they had to monitor me for at least ten minutes. I said no because this baby was coming! She checked me again and it was time. My midwife, Ramona, had arrived. We didn't have time to give anyone our birth plan since our bags where still in the car. Ramona knew exactly what
I wanted though. Lights dimmed, soft voices, and no drugs. It was such an ideal birth. My husband, mom, and mother-in-law were all present. I pushed for about 45 minutes but it only seemed like 10. At 10:17 am Gavin Gram Guthrie entered the world. 

Since I was doing Hypnobabies, I was able to birth my baby with zero pain. My whole pregnancy I only read and listened to positive birth stories. I only imagined having an ideal childbirth experience. I imagined I would be in early labor during my sleep. Then I would wake up during transition and I would arrive at the hospital when I was 6-7cm. I pictured myself having my baby by noon. The mind is a powerful thing, right? 

I've really been blessed with an easy pregnancy, fast childbirth, and a healthy newborn. We love being parents and taking care of our sweet baby.