Week 1 - June 24, 2012

 Ethan after his first ever bath :) Just 3 hours old!

 Tyson, Marissa, Ethan, and Eric - first visitors to the hospital!

Ethan is just 12 hours old!

 Tyson holding baby Ethan!

 My mom was originally scheduled to fly out on Wednesday, 

the 27th of June.

But, guess who caught a last minute flight?

My mom!

She showed up Sunday night, the 24th,

around 11:30pm!

Thanks for coming so soon, Nana!!!

Nana and baby Ethan! Almost 24 hours old!
Nana cannot contain her excitement!!

 Coming home from the hospital, 

June 26th

He's so tiny!!

 Tyler and baby Ethan - first day at home!

Catching some zzzz's during Ethan's first week home.

I wasn't really sleeping :) 

Just cuddling with my baby on the couch!

---

Pictures are worth lots of words...

So, if I post a few pictures,

I don't have to write as many words.

That will come later,

promise.

Ethan walking like an Egyptian..

its the best he can do for now, 

in his sleep!

Grandma Sanders + baby Ethan on blessing day!

Jalene + baby Ethan on blessing day!

 We are getting bigger

and bigger!

 1 month old!!!

Our walk this morning...

All tuckered out :)

Sneaky Baby Part 1

Sneak baby - always kicking the blankets off of him while swinging away! No wonder he starts crying because his feets are cold.

Sneaky baby.

haha

Post-feeding faces 

...

Practically my favorite pics in existence!!

Almost 4 weeks old...

and looking back has never been sweeter.

Catching Up...Later

2 Weeks.

That's how long its been since my life changed :)

And, 

it will probably be another 2 weeks

before I post something of value,

such as the struggles that break my heart,

make me cry,

and the moments that bring immense joy.

I'm just too busy spending my days and nights

with the new man in my life.

He's darling,

adorable,

happy, 

cranky,

sleepy,

awake,

and all mine.

Someday I'll post more pictures,

and actually get newborn pics taken,

but for now,

we'll be on the couch,

lounging,

eating,

 watching the All-Star Game on ESPN tonight,

and the Olympics throughout the rest of the summer.

Feel free to join us :)

Because these are the moments I'll never get back.

You understand.

Scripture of the Week

D&C 84:88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

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!