seriously??

Was my last post really in November?

Well, we are alive and well. Holidays, vacation and now school has kept us moving nonstop.

That is about as much effort I have left to give tonight to my blog!

Good night all!

52 Piece Project

My sister is an amazing artist! I have a few of her pieces in my house and just drool over her website and walls. She is starting a new fabulous give away for those of us who can't afford cheesy Hobby Lobby prints, let alone original fine art. Every week for a year she is going to give a way an original piece. How cool is that?! Check out her project's blog and website! Her work looks great online but the pictures don't do the pieces justice. They are beautiful!

http://52weeksoffreeart.blogspot.com/

http://www.crystaldespain.com

Lucy!

After 6 very cute and handsome grandsons, we finally welcomed a granddaughter into the Dixon family! Lucy Elaine was born to Tiff and Rick on 11/25 (Thanksgiving Day) weighing 6lbs 8 oz and was 19.25 inches. She is so beautiful and we are going to spoil her silly!

Christmas Crafting!

Liam made a count down snowflake chain! What a mess! I think we will be finding glitter for months to come.

poor baby

There were some issues when the drs tried to circumcise Declan as a newborn. Long story short, his foreskin was so swollen it was cutting off blood circulation to the head- which is a problem if we want grandbabies. Our pediatrician called in a pediatric surgeon who rushed over to check Delcan out. He made a slit the length of the the foreskin so release the pressure. We had to wait for him to heal completely before we could try again. So poor kid just got circumcised (11/23). I went in with him and he did great. He was really fussy the rest of the day but has been fine since. I much prefer doing the procedure when they are newborns! I think it is easier on everyone. I am just thankful there was no lasting damage and we were able to get it taken care of.

2 months!

I can't believe he is two months already!!!! At his well baby check up he weighed 13lbs 13 oz and is 24 inches long. He is already filling out some of his 6-9 month clothes- ridiculous!

Happy Real Halloween!

10/31/10

Justin had to work on the real Halloween so we spent it in Loveland at my parents. The cousins came over and we carved more pumpkins and ate candy! My boys were boxes of cereal. Liam was his favorite, Cookie Crisp and Declan was Lucky Charms

Zoo Day

We braved a free day at the Denver Zoo with Katie, Mark and Rodney. It took us a good 30 mins driving in circles to find a parking place. After the zoo we went to Red Robin for dinner. Then the men went to an Avs game and Katie and I brought the kids home and fell asleep :)

10/21/10

Happy Halloween!

The Seamons came over and we carved pumpkins! (10/20/10)

Declan's Blessing

What a sweet sunday it is when you get to listen to your husband and other important men in your life bless your sweet baby. I feel so honored to be married to my husband and to be the mother of my two sons. Declan's blessing was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.

The circle
October 17, 2010

Sleep!

Liam and Delcan both slept amazing the last 2 nights! Liam usually sleeps 12 hours so that was nothing new. However, 8 week old Declan has spoiled me with 10 hours both nights! I actually woke up before both of them this morning! I can't tell you what it was like to wake up on my own time without my crying alarm clocks going off from two different room! A few asked me how I have gotten Declan to sleep so well. He has been sleeping 7 hours since 6 weeks old. All I can think of is that the trick is the velcro swaddle wraps. They are like straight jackets for infants! Ever since I started using them (I think it is the halo brand) Declan has been falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer! For you sleep deprieved moms- it is definitely worth a shot!

Motherhood

I will post pictures and updates soon. I know I am way behind but I am on my laptop and all the pictures are on the desktop.

I can't believe I am a mom. I know it has been a few years since I held Liam for the first time. However, I am humbled and in awe everyday at the amazing gift that I have been given. Even though both of our kids came a few years earlier than we planned, I couldn't be happier. Never did we imagine that just three years after kneeling across the sealing alter would we have two kids! It was a hard adjustment but it just goes to show that Heavenly Father has his own timeline. It is so humbling to be a mother and know that our Heavenly Father trusts me enough with his precious children. I was reading on my friends blog about her labor experience. She said that laboring naturally was the closest she has ever felt to understanding the atonement. I couldn't agree more. The intensity that it take to bring our children into this world is so humbling and amazing. Through the birth of my children, I have come to have a deeper relationship with Christ and our Father in Heaven. My sweet babies drive me crazy and I get really frustrated (more often than I care to admit). Sometimes I hide in my closet for a few minutes to get myself together, but I can't imagine life without them. I make mistakes all day long but as soon as Liam gives Declan a kiss, or when Declan smiles at me and Liam randomly says "love you", I know that I am doing okay. Heavenly Father won't leave us stranded and alone. He helps me everyday. I feel so blessed to be a women and have the gift and calling of motherhood.

Big Eater!

We went to the breastfeeding clinic today at the hospital. At 10 days old, Declan has already hit his birth weight! He also floored the lactation ladies by eating just over 5.5 oz. They had never seen a newborn eat that much before!

Brothers

They aren't brothers are they? I can't get Blogger to rotate this picture so sorry. Declan is the left and Liam is on the right. They are about the same age in the picture.

Liam has been great with Declan. He is pretty gentle and hasn't seemed to jealous. The biggest issue we have is over the pacifiers. Even though Liam hasn't had one since June-ish he still takes a pacifier and hides in his room and sucks on it. As soon as we come looking for him he throws it across the room and pretends he never had it.

Welcome Declan!!!

He his here! My sweet boy, Declan Craig was born on Sept. 18 at 12:58 pm. He weighed 8lbs 11oz and was 20 1/4 inches long.

Friday was moving day. We got all the boxes unloaded and filled the trailer

with our furniture. On Saturday, some volunteers from our new ward were coming to help unload the last of it. However, Saturday at 12:03 am (yes, I looked at the clock) I woke up (after 45mins of sleep) with a contraction. I knew right then I was in labor because it was completely in my back. I let Justin keep sleeping. At 4am I put a call in to my midwife. We decided it was time to come in since we now like 40 mins away and I tested positive for group B strep. My mom got to our house just around 4:30 and away we went. We left our house in shambles with only our beds set up. My Dad came to the house in the morning to meet the elders quorum. I was admitted around6:15 am (triage took forever!) and was happy to find that I was already at 5 cm after only 6 hours! I continued to labor and cope with the back labor until about 7:30 when I received the epidural. After only 45 mins of sleeping after moving all day I was so exhausted.

About 10 mins after I got all hooked up there was a horrible scream from down the hall so

my nurse went running. Apparently, there was a first time mom who dilated from 2 cm to complete in just a few contractions. That poor women. I could hear her through several closed doors and walls. After a couple more screams the music played meaning she had her baby.

Declan was facing the wrong direction and was very slow at turning. Labor stalled so we broke my water at 8 cm. The contractions were still weak and irregular so we started pitocin. Three contractions later I felt ready to push. Four contractions after that I was holding my sweet baby!

My family was amazing. We came home Monday morning to an unpacked house. Our kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms were all put away. There is still organizing to do but the amount of work they did in two days would have taken me weeks.

Our new ward, which we have never attended, has been outstanding. We are so excited to be in it. The elders quorum president called the relief society after they helped move furniture to let them know we were having a baby. We have had meals from them all week. We didn't expect anything from them and have been overwhelmed with their selflessness and generosity. We are so excited to be in this ward!

39 week update!

Everything seems to be great! Baby is still facing the wrong direction but that is are only issue (which isn't really an issue)! I am dilated to 2 cm! I didn't hit 2 with Liam until I was in labor for like 6 hrs so I am excited!

I-Hope-You-Have-The-Baby-Tonight Cake

Crystal surprised me with a cute belly cake. She called it my "I-Hope-You-Have-The-Baby-Tonight Cake". She found a marshmallow fondant recipe so this was her practice cake! It turned out really cute.

Justin thought it was a little strange.

As soon as we found the baby inside Justin flat out refused to eat it. He doesn't have the odd Dixon sense of humor!

Owie

This is the result about five minutes after a two year's head met a tile floor.

Changes and answered prayers

So the next few weeks are going to be crazy!

First off, we are so excited to welcome our baby anytime. His due date is in 10 days! This pregnancy flew! I can't believe it is almost over (although my body is very ready for it to be).

Secondly, we are last minute moving to Fort Collins this weekend! A few weeks ago we went to the temple and were really struggling with how to make Justin's new work schedule fit with his schooling. Well, we felt like maybe we should look into moving to Fort Collins. Within 2 weeks we found the one and only place in Fort Collins that would take our dog and that we could afford as well as found an awesome young family for our place. This is the perfect couple because they have a young boy so I don't have to undo Liam's cute room I just decorated 3 months ago and they have a really flexible move in date so when the baby comes we can put things on hold without it being an issue.

38 week update

All is well and things are moving slowly. I am already more dilated than I was when I went into labor with Liam which is sad because I am only a 1 but I will take it! Baby sounds good but the little stinker turned around and is facing the wrong direction so, unless he rotates again I will no doubt have back labor again.