Born Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 6:03pm. She weighed 7lbs. 12oz. 21 inches long. She had some trouble breathing at first but after a night in the NICU, is doing great. We just can't get enough of our beautiful baby girl!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Evelyn Grace McEwen
Born Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 6:03pm. She weighed 7lbs. 12oz. 21 inches long. She had some trouble breathing at first but after a night in the NICU, is doing great. We just can't get enough of our beautiful baby girl!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Pregnancy Update
Pregnancy up to this point has been a breeze. Aside from a few normal and expected side effects(exhaustion, cravings, etc...), it's been a very comfortable pregnancy...until now! We're heading into our 38th week and I think my belly has doubled in size in the past two weeks. Just when I thought the baby couldn't feel any bigger, it seems she has grown and is taking up more room in my body. I went to the doctor and the baby is already head down. I'm dialated to a 1 and 50% efaced. I have been having some "Braxton Hicks" contractions. The doctor said those could go on for a while or could quickly move into real contractions. There is no telling how fast or slow this will happen. My feet are swollen and none of my shoes except for sandals fit. Not ideal for Utah winter weather. During the night my arms go completely numb and I wake up at least 3-5 times having to walk around and shake some blood back into my arms. Poor Brian is suffering from my lack of sleep too because when I wake up, he wakes up. Poor guy! It seems the baby does not want me to sleep at all because every time I start to get sleepy, my arms or hands go numb and throb. It is the weirdest thing! My doctor gave me some hand braces to wear at night and they seem to be helping. Brian also set up our pillows so I can sleep propped up because my arms dont get as numb when i'm upright. Brian and I are so excited that the baby is coming soon and we've kicked our preparations into high gear. We packed out hospital bag, got our car seat installed, cleaned and prepared the babies room, and Brian is trying to finish our glider restoration project on time. Brian thinks i'm nesting but I think i'm just normally this crazy. I am done working before the baby comes and the doctor said I should take every opportunity to rest and sleep in the next few weeks. Will do Doc! Next on the list of "to-do's" is find a name for this kid. Yesterday seemed like a turning point for us and we're really anticipating the arrival of our baby girl! Now, it's just a waiting game.
Our Little Christmas
Since i'll be out of work the next few months while Brian is in school and the baby is new, we both agreed that we'd only get each other one gift for Christmas. It was such a great opportunity for us to serve others and focus on the Savior this year. I did sneak and get Brian a few more gifts than I agreed to but in my defense, I was a very savvy shopper and barely spent any money at all. I know Brian became increasingly curious during the weeks leading up to Christmas as more and more gifts piled up under the tree. I told him that all my gifts combined cost about the amount of one gift and that I didn't want him getting me more than one gift. And, I honestly wrapped every little possible thing so under our tree wouldn't look so bare. In actuality, I barely got him anything. 
On the 23rd after a long day at work, I told Brian to not get me a gift at all. I know we both had been feeling the stress of affording and providing for our baby and the hours we had been working did not give us time to purchase last minute gifts. The idea of saving our money instead of buying frivalous things was sounding much more appealing to me than any gift at this point. Brian did have something up sleeve though because on Christmas Eve, he made me hide in our bathroom while he hid something in the nursery. He made me promise not to go in the nursery at all. He told me not to put my ear up to the door either. He had me thinking he bought a puppy or something. I seriously would have been happy if he got me nothing but instead, this is what he got me...
Oh. My Goodness!!!!! I can't believe he got me this!!! I didn't even ask for it but couldn't love anything more!!! I have never been so surprised before. Brian knows I love working out and am pretty bummed that i'll have to cancel my gym membership with the baby coming. I felt embarrassed for him to open his gifts after seeing what he got me. My husband is such a stud and pulled this surprise off flawlessly. I know Christmas shouldn't be about gifts and receiving but this is the most awesome gift I have ever received. I will never forget this Christmas and how thoughtful and loving Brian is for getting this for me. I would love him just the same if he got me nothing but seriously, WHAT A STUD!!!!! He knows this gift was the ultimate trump card! I got him a few small things and we spent the rest of the day relaxing, talking to our families, and watching Christmas movies. This is our first and last Christmas with just the two of us. It was so fun and more than I could have dreamed of. Christmas is a time to think of the Savior and to serve one another. I so loved this year that we were able to focus on that more than ever before. Our lives are about to change dramatically and every Christmas here after will be filled with the excitement of our kids anticipating toys and fun. However, I hope that we can maintain the spirit that we felt this year in the future with our children. We want them to know that first and foremost, we serve, and love each other, and remember the Savior. Here are a few more pics. I hope you enjoy.
He's so excited! Don't you love the hair?!
Check out the baby's stocking on the fireplace.
Testing out my new Eliptical.
Brian workin' it in his new outfit!
Holiday Festivities
Since I am so hugely pregnant, we decided (and my doctor decided for us) that traveling would not be a good idea so close to my due date. I was definitely disappointed at first because I have never missed a Christmas with my family. My sister who I haven't seen in seven years, came home this year to celebrate the holiday too and I was sad I was going to miss her visit. We knew pretty early on that we probably wouldn't be able to go home so I had time to get used to the idea. We made our apartment as festive as possible filling it with a tree, stockings, lights, garland, and the constant smell of baked goods. We even constructed our own fireplace out of cardboard and paint so we would have a place to hang our stockings. When Brian's parents were first married, they did the same thing and we thought it would be fun to try it out. It was a total success and Brian and I have become quite attached to our little fireplace. 
We worked A TON for the two weeks leading up to Christmas. Brian got me a job making Kneaders gift baskets for the holidays and he and I both were putting in about 10-12 hours a day there. It was fun but draining and left little time for planning holiday festivities and starting traditions. We worked Christmas Eve and had no big plans for it. Luckily, Brian has such a cute, fun family and his Aunt and Uncle invited us over for dinner and a full evening of holiday fun. We got to see his cousins and play with their new little baby boy, Beckett. That was especially fun for Brian and I since parenthood is knocking on our door. We had a delicious ham dinner (Thanks Debbie!!) and played our own version of "Minute To Win It."
Brian practicing his Daddy skills
"Minute To Win It" Challenge...failed!
He dominated this game.
We palyed a really fun game that has become a new tradition for his Aunt and Uncle. It's called sledding and has nothing to do with being out in the cold snow. Each of us got a big Hershey bar and a bag of candy. Using hot glue and only the bag of candy provided, we decorated our "sleds." Then we put a big tarp on the stair and raced the sleds down the tarp/hill. We had brackets and played double elimination. There were even first, second, and third place prizes. I didn't place but Brian got third place and we won a gas card. Whoo Hoo!! Brian's Grandparents were the winners of the night anmd took first place!
Love them!
Brian and I hope we can start this fun tradition in our own little family in a few years. Thanks to Bruce, Debbie, Brittany and Montana(and Beckett), Mason, Grandma and Grandpa Mac, and Grandma Wixom for making our Christmas Eve so memorable and fun. We are so blessed to have a wonderful family close by!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Birthday Cake
- So, this is the cake Brian told me he was going to make me...
Gross. Gross. Gross!!!!!
He was kidding of course and this is what he really made me...
Double Decker Strawberry cake with strawberries inside and strawberry mousse frosting. Yum!!! He was strict about me staying out of the kitchen while he made it. What a little lover! It was delicious!
Like pulling teeth to get him to pose for this but here he is toiling away. :)
Quarter of a Century
Well friends, I was pretty excited for December 7th this year for every reason besides the fact that it was my birthday. I have to admit it was probably one of the most eventful, unique, and unforgettable birthdays i'll ever have. It was an exciting day but even more exciting for a few other members of our McEwen family. I started my day off pretty typically...
1. Go to work- Check
2. Talk to Ash Hall on the phone- Check
3. Weekly grocery shopping trip- Check
4. Annual(and awesome) birthday call from my Mom- Check
5. Lunch with a friend- Check
6. Amanda(sis-in-law) is in Labor- Che...WHAT!?!!!!!
So Amanda going into labor was a total surprise! I had joked with her about going into labor a week early on my birthday but didn't really think it would happen. I was pretty excited to be sharing my birthday with my new niece and couldn't really wait to tell Brian so I went to his work early and waited till he had a free minute to tell him. We were both so excited and thrilled for Dan, Amanda, and Julia! The rest of the day we waited for a text or call saying that the baby came. Well, at about 5:15pm she arrived with a full head of black hair weighing 7 lbs 7 oz and 20 inches long. She is a doll and looks quite a bit like her big sister Julia. Here is a pic of her and the beautiful Amanda(can you believe Amanda just had a baby in this pic? either can I). After much deliberation I think, she received the Name Addison Grace McEwen. It fits her so well and Brian and I love it and wish we lived closer so we could see her in person. I'm honored to share a birthday with my beautiful niece. Don't you just love her fuzzy black hair?!
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