Family

ethan clarke hollingshaus

7 lbs 15 oz

19.5" long

...practically perfect in every way...

After a LONG week of work, 

we decided to head out to the wilderness.

I had some photo assignments due today,

and had totally forgotten.

Off we went.

I have to say, 

trekking up the mountainside 

was so refreshing.

I felt so rejuvenated.

Which is saying something,

as my contractions contradict the very thought of hiking!

Gotta love Big Cottonwood Canyon.

I love being outdoors :)

 I never will get over the beautiful simplicity of a few flowers :)

 Our classic pose ... haha

 I'm not sure what's going on here....but BABY!

Here he comes...haha

 Feets and water under a bridge.

Yep.

Love it.

 Tyler breakin it down...

 Gotcha!

haha

 I see you....

Baby loves hiking too :)

Well,

last day of work for the week tomorrow!

They're even throwing me a baby shower :)

Isn't that the sweetest thing?

Here's to wrapping up another week of work,

leaving us at 37 weeks of pregnancy. 

3 more and then...

life changes.

[like it hasn't already?! haha]

Slowly but surely...

This past week has been crazy!

We have our brother in law staying with us for a bit,

from Australia! 

G'day Paul!

He brought his assistant from work with him,

Ashlee.

She is freakin rad!

We shopped till the wheels fell off.

And my feet.

And my shoes.

haha

 This week they're in Vegas for a convention,

and then Ashlee flies back to Melbourne. 

Lame.

This just means that we'll have to go visit in Australia!

Paul brought the baby the CUTEST present:

A crocodile dundee hat!!

Complete with a tooth and all!

We got the adorable stuffed animal from our good friends,

Kyle and Leah,

and he makes a pretty good model :)

***

So since the past few days have been a little demanding,

baptisms,

family functions,

lots of good shopping,

church,

etc...

My body decided to have non-stop contractions

from 3:30am - 6 pm

yesterday.

They were probably 45s-1 min long and a little bit more than 5 minutes apart.

And, 

of course,

my dr is out of the office this week,

so guess who trekked to the hospital yesterday afternoon?

---> This girl <---

They hooked me up to monitors,

and I hooked my iPhone up to the wi-fi,

and Pandora was my friend :)

Of course I'm not in 'real labor' yet,

but monitoring is the way of the west.

And we're good!

Baby is super healthy!

I'm at 2cm and 75% effaced.

And I could stay this way for weeks :)

The worst part is the nausea.

I don't know why it hit me so hard the past two days,

but it is odd - not like morning sickness at all.

 I think its just a part of the journey.

They tried to keep me for an additional hour,

but I talked them in to letting me go home.

Hospitals are boring.

So I took the day off of work today and FINALLY,

for probably the first and last time (haha)

I got a good night's rest! 

Wow!

Its so nice!

Anywho, when Ty got home from work,

he decided he needed to do some assembling haha

 So the crib went up,

and while we're still arranging the baby's room,

it feels a lot more 'real' 

now that we have a few things up.

 

A big thanks again to Jess for this super adorable quilt!

And yes, I do sleep with it on the couch sometimes! haha

She said I could!

So baby,

stay in for a little while longer;

contractions stay away too,

but sooner or later,

we'll have big news!

bahaha.

I'm going to take a nap!

Comparisons....

Remember the time I was preggo?

Left: 15 Weeks

Right: 34 Weeks

And at 8 weeks I thought everyone could tell!!! 

Hilarious! 

haha

Friends, Food, and Festivities

 I don't know if I've ever admitted this,

but I used to be afraid of baby showers (for me).

I finally realized what stopped me from enjoying them....

its silly, really.

I'll tell you why at the end :)

 ~

This past weekend, 

some of my very bestest friends in the world

[The Alder ladies + Sarah Acree]

decided to undertake this adventure,

and a baby shower was thrown!

 Bahaha! I love this melon baby!

 The Alders have a thing for chocolate mustaches...

and they were in abundance!

I love being a part of this family!

 [recognize these from pinterest? they do not disappoint!]

In my mind,

Laurel Alder just happens to be a gourmet chef,

with roots all over Europe.

These were the best brownies I've ever inhaled,

and I am now a recovering addict.

[chocolate + infused orange + chocolate ganache + caramelized orange slices]

My friend Jessica,

who lives way across the country,

made this darling quilt for our baby boy!

I was so touched.

She did such a great job!

Thanks so much Jess!

[since she couldn't be there, I brought it with me to use as decor :)]

Just me,

setting up :)

And no.

I thought about ironing my pants...

and totally didn't do it.

I'm over it.

 haha

Jake the snake.

Loved his helmet hair post bike-ride.

He told me he made everything for the shower...

yup.

haha

 Group of lovely ladies who stayed until the very end!

[it was an open house style party, and I wish we had taken pictures all the way through!]

Thank you to everyone who came!!!

 My parting gifts for those who came...

[I wanted to give something back...so I made bath salt boxes and held a raffle!]

Laurel + Clara

 Baby B - aka Bennett Truscott!

 Mustaches strike again!

 and again...

 and again....

and again!!!!

~

Overall,

I had such a fun time!

We had hilarious guessing games,

and candy has never tasted so sweet!

We laughed, hung out,

and just relaxed.

I was sooooo nervous before!

No lie.

It came as a big surprise to me

that people actually came.

I have never felt so loved.

I think that I've been so hesitant to want a shower,

because I know all of the hard work that goes into planning one.

And in my mind,

I really didn't think I was worth all that trouble.

And,

when someone [or a group of someones]

takes the time to show you just how much you really do matter,

you will never be the same.

A big thank you to the Alders & Sarah - you were wonderful!

Maddie,

thank you for being such a great party planner!

Your attention to detail will never escape my appreciation!

You are the best ever!

And a big thanks to Tyler,

who I could not do any of this without.

He's kind of the very best thing about life.