Hear ye! Hear ye!

Calais Emmeline Hannon is here!!!

January 8, 2014 5:06 pm

6 lbs 11 oz

19 inches long

First official photo!

Zack and I are so excited to announce the arrival of Calais Emmeline Hannon. Our most beautiful and perfect angel is finally here and we couldn't be more excited! She is precious and is the most wonderful thing that we have ever done.

Getting her here was the longest and hardest thing that I have ever done but the most rewarding and fulfilling. After it all started with a kiss, 9 months ago, January 8, 2014 was the big day.

On Monday, Jan 6, I went in for a regular checkup with my OB/GYN. As usual I was miserable and huge. During my check-up my Dr. noticed that Calais was not moving like she normally did at my appointments. My Dr. is amazing! Dr. Andrea Herbert at, Intermountain Medical Center, has such a good bedside manner and has shown a genuine concern not only for me but for Cali as well.She sent me over to maternal fetal medicine for a non-stress test to see how the little lady was doing. The test found that Cali was doing just fine but that mommy was losing amniotic fluid and little Miss was swimming in less than adequate surroundings.  After consulting the neo-natal physician on call, they determined that I had to be induced and get Cali here before her due date (1/16/14) and they would start me the next evening, Tues, Jan 7. Needless to say I was overjoyed at the thought of meeting my baby so soon but kinda scared that things would move slowly and take forever. I had some serious mixed emotions and went from uncomfortable to anxious in 3 seconds flat! Baby was coming, ready or not!

Ready to pop!

The hospital told me that they would be calling me sometime in the morning to let me know when to come in and I went home and started packing and cleaning like a mad woman. I'll admit it, I hadn't packed a bad or really gotten anything ready. Just call me 'Lady Procrastination'. I got the call to go in around 7:20 pm on Tues and Zack and I were at the hospital and settled by 7:50. They started me on fluids right away and induced me about an hour later. That night was a mix between exhiliration and terror. I was in a lot of pain but kept visualizing the end result. Cali's heart rate jumped up and stayed up at one point and I had to be on oxygen for a little while. Little miss didn't like having all the medicine in there with her. :( 

Around 7am the next day, the Dr broke my water and started me on pitocin, a medicine to help contractions start. At first I felt in complete control of my body but as the contractions got closer together and a whole lot stronger, I realized that this delivery wouldn't be going the way I imagined it would. Luckily for me, I had Zack there to rub my back and feet; my mom, to talk to me about her deliveries and keep me focused on breathing; and Kim, the nurse. 

Nurse Kim is the absolute best!

Kim was AMAZING!!! She was so kind and helpful. She knew that I had a medical background so she didn't sugar coat things and explained things in a way that made me feel empowered. She was the most wonderful person to have take charge in that room and I am forever going to be grateful for her. She was the biggest advocate for me getting an epidural. I think she knew how much I wanted to have an all natural delivery but she could also see how hard my body was working. I believe she knew that if I didn't get an epidural, I wouldn't have the strength to truly experience the birth of my daughter.

At around 1:30pm, when the contractions were almost unbearable and I had been crying for a while, Kim gently put her hands on my knees and told me, "Allie, there is no shame in getting an epidural. You are really brave to try this without one but your body is so tired and you need to rest. Please consider the epidural." She never broke eye contact with me and I felt as if she truly cared about me. Like I was the most important person to her at that moment. I looked around the room at Zack and my mom and they both nodded in agreement. My mom told me she felt the same way as Kim and Zack had a look of concern and terror on his face that I took to mean, 'please get one!" I cried for a minute; I had really wanted to do it all on my own, but I knew that they were right and that I had to realize that I wasn't weak. I was strong. I was doing something amazing and something that I had wanted for so long. Getting an epidural wouldn't take anything from that experience. It would give me a chance to really enjoy the process of bringing my daughter into this world.

After I got the epidural, things calmed down right away. I relaxed and was able to sleep. Zack and my mom chatted while I snoozed and then went and got something to eat when Kim came back in to check on my progress around 3:30. Kim informed me that I was fully dialated and that I would be able to push really soon. I called Zack and told him the news. He and my mom were back in my room less than 5 mins later. I think Zack's nerves were starting to set in. Kim started setting up the equipment needed and informed my Dr what was going on. We notified my Dad and he made his way to SLC. 

At 4 Kim informed us that it was time to start pushing. My mom left to wait in the lobby for my dad, leaving me and Zack to do this on our own. I was so nervous! I pushed for 40 mins before my Dr came in to take over. I felt really safe and secure. I had my Dr, doing her thing; Kim, holding one leg and counting; and Zack, holding my hand and my other leg. I had quite the team!

At 5:06 pm my daughter came into this world. They set her on my chest and I couldn't help but cry. Those next few moments were so special and spiritual that I can't even describe them. It was such a fulfilling and uplifting experience. I thank my Heavenly Father for that wonderful, miraculous experience. Never had I felt so powerful and womanly. I did it! Zack and I were parents. We fell in love with her at first sight and knew that we would never be the same. We were a family.

Stretch it out! Things aren't as cramped anymore.

We get to go home! Thanks IMC, it's been a real slice!

The next few hours were spent loving on our princess and introducing her to her adoring public. Her birth marked an amazing milestone for me. I was a mother now. There was no turning back. I couldn't see how I had ever gotten by in life without her before then. She is perfect and completes me. My love for her knows no bounds or limits. I would do an will do anything for her. She has our hearts and has Zack wrapped around her little finger. She is the first grandchild and great-grandchild on my side and, on top of being already so completely spoiled, she is so loved. My parents are in Heaven and are the perfect grandparents.

Grandma's girl!

Calais is our everything and we have the most amazing time loving her and getting to know her little personality. She is our princess and we can't wait to watch her grow and get to know her big personality.

Mommy and Daddy love you Calais!!!!

Christening the couch! 

First bow! How adorable! 

 Sleepy girl. Birth is hard!

She doesn't know how to feel about the first time in the swing. 

Thank Heaven's for pacifiers! 

Her 'meeting my adoring public' face. 

Mommy, I'm so tired and you keep taking pictures....

Third Trimester!!!! Baby Girl Update - 28 weeks!

How Far Along? - 28 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - Why is this even a question? Why would any pregnant woman freely give out this info? I mean, come on!

Stretch Marks? - I would like to find a part of my body that doesn't have them, no, seriously they just pop up when ever they feel like it.

Sleep? - Lately I have been sleeping really hard and when I wake up my hips and abs hurt...bad! Apparently I sleep so hard that I revert back to my pre-pregnancy sleeping positions and they squish Cali so she kicks as hard as she can to make me move. It must work because I always wake up flat on my back feeling like I have bruises the size of babies on my insides...thanks Cali...can't wait for you to do it again tonight!

Best Moment This Week? - Picking out girly fabric for all the covers and blankets I am making for the Princess. It was actually a lot of fun and Zack even helped...for those of you who don't know, Zack is one of the most opinionated but nice people in the world. He could absolutely hate something when I pick it out but not say anything because he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. Then, when I bring it out later he tells me that he doesn't really like it...uh, couldn't you have told me that before we paid for it!!! It's aggravating to say the least so the fact that he was picking out patterns and giving me his opinion on ones I picked out says a lot for him...way to grow Babe!!

Worst Moment This Week? - Hip pain. I have bad knees from years of dance so I at least thought that they would hurt the most but nope, not even a twinge. My hips....well they feel like I need a double hip replacement. Not cool.

Miss Anything? - Seeing my feet. You don't realize how much you depended on looking down at cute new shoes until your big, beach ball of a belly makes it so you can't see anything below the boobs. Also, working. We have been in this limbo type of situation with Medicaid so I can't get a job that would be reported to the State. So I have been jobless since last month. Can you say, 'Daytime tv sucks!!'

Movement? - She is quite the swimmer these days. Sometimes she moves so much that when she stops I freak out and think she's dead. She then kicks me really hard in the bladder or sciatic and I quickly withdraw my thought. Little punk.

Food Cravings? - Fruit, like in the summer. Fresh peaches, cantaloupe, watermellon, oranges, green apples. Winter pregnancies suck if you are a fresh fruit gal. All there is available is canned crap that tastes like metal. Bleck!

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne and I'm recently back to hating on Mexican food. Well I should say, it hates me.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Nope! :)

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band still on but I've opted out of the engagement ring as it fits a little more snug and I refuse to ever have that thing cut off!

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I'm reaching that stage when all you want to do is just get things ready and put together. Those thoughts keep me pretty happy but then I realize that I still live with my sister and I can't really set up a nursery for my daughter in someone else's house. It's kinda lame. So I'm pretty happy with times of depression. It sucks.

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon! Something to do during the day, Zack not working nights anymore....it's a long list.

Baby is the size of a: Chihuahua!

Baby's development this week: So I have found this new pregnancy information site called 'Pregnant Chicken' and it is hilarious! It's written by this lady from Canada and her experience with being pregnant. She tells it like it is and can be a little vulgar at times but it is so real (and hilarious!) and at times dead on to what I'm feeling that I go with it. So....at 28 weeks, Baby Cali is the size of a Chihuahua. Roughly 16 inches long and about 2.5 lbs. She is getting better at discerning light and dark and might even be able to see light through my belly. As I'm not inside my belly, I cannot verify this statement. Her brain is active and her movements are getting stronger and more deliberate (opening/closing fists, sucking thumb, turning, etc.) and can cause pain...don't I know it! She is now in her third trimester and could be here pretty much when she feels like it in about 2-3 weeks. Let's hope this princess doesn't like making a grand entrance but rather prefers to be fashionably on time, when she's supposed to, not late, not early....on time!

Baby girl update - 27 weeks!

How Far Along? - 27 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - I'm not sure about me but baby girl is growing like a weed...almost .5 lbs in the past week.

Stretch Marks? - I would like to find a part of my body that doesn't have them, no, seriously they just pop up when ever they feel like it.

Sleep? - Yes and no. I can sleep on the couch like a champ but sleeping in bed (no matter how many pillows I have) is a different story. There really isn't a good position for me and I'm finding that rolling over takes way more energy than it should.

Best Moment This Week? - Um, no big things happened but I have loved feeling Cali have hiccups. She gets them all the time and from what I can tell, laughs afterwards.

Worst Moment This Week? - Practicing for labor...those Braxton Hicks contractions suck!

Miss Anything? - Laying on my stomach. I have only 3 months left and I can lay on it again!!!

Movement? - All the time! She's going to be a feisty little lady. She kicks me in the sciatic and it kills but I feel that is a good thing...no matter how mad it makes me. She's moving and every movement is proof that she's still alive and that I haven't killed her like every plant I've ever had.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones and Code Red, I have a problem.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne. I am doing better with Mexican food but some of it still makes me queasy.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Nope! :)

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band still on but I've opted out of the engagement ring as it fits a little more snug and I refuse to ever have that thing cut off!

Happy or Moody most of the time? - As I am 27 weeks pregnant...what personality you get you should be happy for. Hey, no one ever said it was a perfect system.

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon! Something to do during the day, Zack not working nights anymore....it's a long list.

Baby is the size of a: Head of Cauliflower

Baby's development this week: She is about 2 lbs and is 14 1/2 inches long. She sleeps in regular intervals and opens and closes her little eyes. She might even be trying to suck her thumb now. Her brain is continuing to develop and is very active now. Her lungs are still immature but she would be able to breathe with medical help if she were to be born now. Any little movements I may feel are most likely her having hiccups. They only last a few moments and don't cause her any harm, they just cause a tickling sensation for me.

Braxton Hicks is a stupid name! - Baby girl update 26 weeks!!!

How Far Along? - 26 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 5.5 lbs but who's counting...(not me, it just makes me depressed.)

Stretch Marks? - I would like to find a part of my body that doesn't have them, no seriously they just pop up when ever they feel like it.

Sleep? - Yes and no. I can sleep on the couch like a champ but sleeping in bed (no matter how many pillows I have) is a different story. There really isn't a good position for me and I'm finding that rolling over takes way more energy than it should.

Best Moment This Week? - Seeing my little ones knee pop right out! She's really loving the frog style sleeping position but when she wakes up....those legs get to kicking right away.

Worst Moment This Week? - Last night I got to experience my first go around with Braxton Hicks contractions. Yay me... For those who don't know, Braxton Hicks contractions are the body's way of practicing for the big event to come. Most women have them all during pregnancy but don't feel them until later in the 2nd trimester as the uterus has more demanded of it. Mine started about 4 pm and didn't really stop until about 2 or 3 am this morning. Not to freak anyone out but, they really hurt. Today I feel like I did about a million sit ups....boy, do my abs hurt. Oh well, all in the name of getting her here, right? It was definitely an experience to never forget.

Miss Anything? - Laying on my stomach. I have only 3 months left and I can lay on it again!!!

Movement? - She likes to sleep in random patterns but when she's up, I know it. She's going to be a free-willed kind of lady. Oh Joy! She can kick my phone off of my belly and I love laying propped up so that I can watch her move. It is so weird! She gets a little hand shy when Zack tries to feel her but once she realizes that it's not just some sort of 'stranger danger' situation happening out here and it is her daddy, she'll give him a good kick.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones. Code Red, I have a problem.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne. I am doing better with Mexican food but some of it still makes me queasy.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - No, just lovely Braxton Hicks contractions....how come they are named after a guy who never could feel them. I learned that he was the man who determined what they were and their purpose and he even told the medical community that they were, "a mildly uncomfortable way for the female body to prepare for labor.' I'll give him a mildly uncomfortable way to prepare for labor....a punch in the face. They are so much more than mildly uncomfortable if they are making it so I can't sleep. Yes, thank you Sir, you're a real professional. Let's leave the diagnosis of female problems to those who can/do experience the symptoms, mmmkay?

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band still on but I've opted out of the engagement ring as it fits a little more snug and I refuse to ever have that thing cut off!

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I feel like I'm doing the best I can. I mean, I don't freak out on anyone or get really upset over things but I have my moments...which are often late at night when my mind plays 'Let's see what we can get her to freak out over this time' and I lay in bed picturing horrible scenarios from labor problems to Cali being born with all her teeth. Yeah, my imagination is wild!

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon! Something to do during the day, Zack not working nights anymore....it's a long list.

Baby is the size of a: Scallion

Baby's development this week: She is just a little over 1 2/3 lbs and 14 inches. She is practicing breathing in and out which will help her breath more easily when she gets here. Her sense of hearing is more keen and she can now hear it when Zack and I are talking, not just talking into the belly. Hopefully Zack with start talking in French soon so that Cali will be more apt to going with the flow when he starts it up at her birth. He says that it will be his way of bonding with her and that she WILL be bi-lingual. It's going to be an adventure!

Baby girl update - 25 weeks!

How Far Along? - 25 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 5 lbs

Stretch Marks? - Yep!

Sleep? - um, depends on the day....I'm pretty sure I grow in the belly region while I sleep so sometimes sleep isn't so wonderful.

Best Moment This Week? - Finding out that I don't have gestational diabetes. My numbers were so low that it won't even be a problem for me. Yay!!!

Worst Moment This Week? - Not having something to do during the day. Zack is working graveyards so he sleeps all day. My sister works from 11-4 so, I get to spend a lot of the day entertaining myself and watching a lot of t.v. The glucose test drink sucked BIG TIME!!! It was so disgusting and I had to do it twice. Bleck!

Miss Anything? - Hot showers and seeing my feet.

Movement? - Every chance she gets. So far she sleeps like Zack...in circles.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne. I am doing better with Mexican food but some of it still makes me queasy.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Not yet and she better stay in there for at least another 10 weeks before she can even think about coming.

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? -On

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I am trying really hard to be happy but I have never have dealt with loss of control or not having a plan very well so, I've been a bit emotional...

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon!

Baby is the size of an: Large rutabaga

Baby's development this week: She is just a little over 1.5 lbs and 13.5 inches. She has more fat by now but still looks like a spider monkey. She's growing more hair now and if we could see it we would be able to discern color and texture. My guess is that she's bald just like I was, (I didn't have hair until I was almost 2.)

Later Logan!!! Baby girl update, 24 weeks

So we have left Logan....YAY!!! I mean, aw man! Just kidding. We loved our friends we made and all the great memories but it is SOOOO nice to be back close to family. We are currently living with my sister Brittney (who's also pregnant!) and her husband Adam. Zack is working as a security guard for Chapman Security and I'm just trying to keep my head on straight. Life hasn't been roses this past week and hopefully it gets better soon....

Baby girl is learning a lot! She can kick hard enough that I can see her moving under my shirt. She's gonna be a feisty one. My work friends threw me a baby shower before we moved and I got a lot of cute stuff. I can't wait to dress her up and send back pictures. My ward friends want to throw me a shower in a few weeks so I will be back up in Logan for a day. This is going to be fun!

How Far Along? - 24 1/2  weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 5 lbs

Stretch Marks? - Yep!

Sleep? - Not really, it hurts to lay on my sides.

Best Moment This Week? - Watching her move around....she's gonna be a soccer star or a dancer.

Worst Moment This Week? - Moving. Cali didn't like it. She would kick (felt more like a tantrum) and then roll over and over until I had to sit down. My hands and feet have been swollen from being on my feet while moving...that has really sucked.

Miss Anything? - Cinnamon rolls.

Movement? - Every chance she gets. So far she sleeps like Zack...in circles.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne, Mexican food and this soap that Zack picked out for the bathroom - talk about disgusting!

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Not yet and hopefully not for a while.

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? -On

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I am trying really hard to be happy but I have never have dealt with loss of control or not having a plan very well so, I've been a bit emotional...

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon!

Baby is the size of an: Large ear of corn

Baby's development this week: She is just a little over 1.5 lbs and a foot long.  She's still lean but will soon start to plump out. Brain is growing quickly and taste buds are continuing to develop. Lungs are developing branches of her respiratory tree and are producing surfactant, a substance that will help air sacs in the lungs inflate once your baby hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent and that will start to change soon.

Our life/Baby girl update - 23 weeks

So, in case you didn't hear, we are leaving Logan (finally) and are moving to SLC in about a week. Zack got a job as a security guard and he's really excited. So am I. I can't wait for a lot of things but moving closer to my family and Zack getting started with his career (he wants to be a government agent) has been something I have been looking forward to for the past 3 years we've lived in Logan. 

We've had some good times but Logan isn't home and never really has. To be honest I cry every time we have to come back to Logan from being anywhere else. We've made some really good friends and had some wonderful experiences with work and school but as with everything...it must come to an end. 

We are having to find a new home for our cat Jazzie and that makes me sad. I've never really been a cat person but she's grown on me these last two years. Hopefully we can just have her stay with family until we can get a pet friendly place...praying really hard for that one.

As for now, Zack is in SLC working and I'm still in Logan packing our life up. Strange to see how much junk we have accumulated since moving here. Our whole lives seem to be exploding in every room I have to go through...it's been crazy.

Baby girl seems to be growing and doing just fine. I talk to her while I get ready, drive, do chores and I've even started praying and reading scriptures out loud so she can hear...it's never to late to start teaching good things! I really hope Cali loves the gospel as much as Zack and I do.  I just read what I wrote to her and she moved...I shall take that as an approval spin. Speaking of the princess, here's her weekly update:

How Far Along? - 23 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 8 lbs

Stretch Marks? - Yep!

Sleep? - Depends on the night now but mostly I sleep hard.

Best Moment This Week? - Today I was participating in floating Zucchini boats at work and I was wading out on the rocks to keep the boats from getting stuck. I was using this rickety old stick to balance and I almost fell in. As I was wading around I was talking to Cali, (everything says to talk to the baby now - she can hear me!) telling her that I was sorry if we got cold and it seemed as if she was laughing at the idea...she was moving like crazy and I could just see this little human laughing at her mom. Don't know how I know it but, she's going to look like me but be Zack's twin in personality. I can't wait!

Worst Moment This Week? - Zack left on Wed to go start a new job and left us here in Logan all alone, sad and lonely. I was so sad and depressed and to make matters worse, regardless of what Zack believes or thinks, I could tell Cali knew he had left and she didn't move for almost a day and a half! I was so freaked out that she had died!!! Luckily she moved while I was singing in the car so I felt a lot better.

Miss Anything? - Massages and Code Red (I will always miss Code Red.)

Movement? - Every chance she gets. So far she sleeps like Zack...in circles.

Food Cravings? - Weirdly, a quarter pounder with cheese from Wheeler's in Mt. Pleasant. Man, those were so good!

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne, Mexican food and this soap that Zack picked out for the bathroom - talk about disgusting!

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Not yet and it better stay that way for a little longer!

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band on, Engagement ring off :(

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I am stressed out due to the move but I seem to be staying pretty happy for now. Let's all hope it stays that way.

Looking forward to: Zack feeling her kick and being back in the same house as him. Getting our own place and not mooching off of family.

Baby is the size of an: Large Mango

Baby's development this week: She has a well developed sense of movement now. She can feel me move around or dance to music. she's almost a foot long and weighs over a pound. Her kicks are stronger and about now I should be seeing her squirming around soon. Her cochlea are fully formed in her ears and her hearing is becoming more keen. Her blood vessels in her lungs are are developing to prepare for breathing. She's growing so fast!