Growing Gal

     A lot has happened the past few weeks, visit from Nana and Papa, first road trip, first cold, first sick trip to the doctor, and first real smile.  We were worried for a little bit that Kyle was deaf because she never flinched at sounds.  We even took her to see the fireworks for the opening ceremonies of the World Senior Games and she didn't seem to care at all about the loud booming.  We were so freaked out by this that we even banged a pot and pan together right by her face, but still we got no reaction from her.  But, today while Kyle was sleeping I closed the drier door (probably louder than necessary) she flinched!  YAY! Kyle is not deaf! 

     Kyle seems like she is getting bigger.  Photos make it look like she is really filling out but, it's really just her cheeks.  The rest of her body is still very skinny.  Kyle has her own little personality and I have a feeling she is going to be stubborn like her Dad.  She loves to dance with Mom, it usually calms her down.  Tummy time is not her favorite.  Kyle loves her baths, as long as the water is a little warmer than you would expect.

Squished in one car for a shopping adventure!

Our first family photo since Kyle was born... Kyle is 3 weeks old

All the Cook girls

Trying to make help Kyle and Dylan hold hands.

Success!

Swimming!  Kyle still seemed too small to go swimming but, hopefully we can take her soon!

Matching dresses!  Kyle was mid-nap when we took these photos, she was not a happy camper.

Papa and Nana

Uncle Clayton.

4 weeks old

Lincoln (almost 2) loved Kyle, he always wanted to hold her.

Grandpa, Kyle, and Tulo

Kyle was so sick, fevers and coughing all day.  She scooted her way from my stomach to that position. 

5 weeks

6 weeks, she loves her pacifier, it's getting hard to take photos without it in her mouth.

Cuddle time with Dad

First day at church!

3 Weeks already!

I can't believe that only 3 weeks ago little Kyle came into our lives.  She came earlier than planned, we still haven't even made it to her due date, but we love her and find ourselves just staring at her all the time!  We might be creepy parents...

Kyle has been a pretty good baby so far, she doesn't cry too much, she mostly just grunts and squirms when she gets hungry.  It's a good thing I am a light sleeper or else I would never hear her at night and she would probably starve to death!  Kyle likes to sleep on her side, it doesn't matter if we lay her on her back she will roll herself to her side every time.  When she gets really tired she can't fall asleep until we swaddle her but, both of her arms are usually out of the swaddle before she is fully asleep.  Kyle makes a funny whine-like noise while she sleeps, it sounds like a puppy whimpering on its first night sleeping without its siblings.  We love her and are so grateful that she is in our life!!

Kyle is starting to fit in her car seat!

Cameron and Kyle after the Kokopelli Triathlon

3 weeks!

Kyle Jessie Cook

Wow!  Has it really been almost a year since out last blog post?  A lot has changed in our lives since then.  We found out in January of this year that we would be expecting a little baby come September.  She surprised us all when she came 3 1/2 weeks early.  As far as the pregnancy goes I really can't complain too much.  I only threw up one time and that was after smelling a pair of Cameron's soccer socks that had been in his soccer bag for who knows how long.  Near the end I wasn't sleeping well and I was always super hot, I believe that is to be expected.  I'm not a super big fan of pregnancy photos so here are just a couple that were randomly taken over the past few months.

At the top of Observation Point, 5 months (20 weeks)

                      At the Hogle Zoo with Brittnie,               7 months (28 weeks)      

That's about all the pictures I am willing to share at this point... haha

     So for the big day, or should I say night?  It was around 7pm on August 30 when I first started feeling contractions.  Cameron had gone to work and I was just hanging out at home with his little brother Spencer who has been visiting for the past few days.  The contractions were more of just a nuisance at this point so I wasn't really paying much attention to them.  That morning I had been checked by my doctor and he said I was dilated to a 2+ and was "very thin", I have heard of many women who are dilated to a 3 for weeks so I figured nothing was going to happen for a while.  As Spencer and I continued to watch our movie I noticed that the contractions were getting closer together and stronger.  By 10pm they were about 8-10 minutes apart, I started to get a little nervous so I packed a bag to take to the hospital, just in case.  At about 11pm I tried to go to sleep because I was supposed to work in the morning.  I called my mom to confirm that the pain I was feeling was actually a contraction, I am pretty sure I freaked her out because she told my little brother he needed to drive down from Cedar City to take me to the hospital.  After laying in bed/ pacing around my room for about an hour I finally decided that this might be the real thing.  At this point the contractions were about ever 5-6 minutes.  I came out of my room and asked Spencer if he would go on a walk with me.  Spencer was so sweet, he just popped right out of his bed and put his shoes on.  Meanwhile, Cameron was having the craziest night of his life while at work with 2 dying patients and no one to cover him so he could go to the hospital.  Spencer and I walked around for about an hour.  When we got home I told him the contractions were coming about every 3-4 minutes and that I probably needed to go in and get checked.

    We arrived at the hospital at about 2:15am, they helped me get settled in my room.  At this point I was dilated to a 5.  When the nurse told me I remember saying, "A five?  Wow, I wasn't expecting that."  She responded saying, "Yeah, neither did I."  At 3am they checked me again to make sure I was progressing,  I was dilated to a 6 and they said they were going to admit me.  I was starting to get really stressed out because our baby was coming and Cameron wasn't here.  Luckily, Spencer was in town so he went to Alisha and Braeden's house to stay with Dylan so that Alisha could come sit with me and help me through the labor stuff until Cameron got there.  They finally found someone to come and take over Cameron's patients and Cameron got the the hospital around 3:45am.  At this point the pain was really bad and I was ready to back out of my original plan and get an epidural.  My nurse came in and checked me and told me I was a 9+ and that the epidural might not work fast enough but that I could still get one if I wanted.  I told her that I might as well just keep on going.  She asked if I wanted to try to lay on my side to see if they helped with the pain.  I was willing to try anything.  As I started to roll over my water broke, I had a contraction, and I felt this incredibly strong urge to push.  I remember saying/ yelling, "I think my water broke, and I really feel the need to push!"  Luckily, my doctor walked in at that moment and we were ready!  About 6 or 7 contractions later I heard my baby cry.  It was probably the most amazing moment in my life!

Kyle Jessie Cook
Born on August 31, 2012 at 4:41am
Weight 5 pounds 1ounce
Height 18 inches

Here are some photos of our beautiful little girl!!

Kyle and Spencer

Kyle and Dylan, 9 weeks apart

Kyle did not like the car seat

Enjoying some skin to skin time with Dad

So it turns out that I have fallen off the blog band wagon entirely... and even though my last post was called "update central" it is possible this post is the true update central. It doesn't really feel like much has happened since May but, in all reality there have been a lot of changes.

First, we moved! Only a few blocks from our last apartment but, we have been loving this new place. We feel like we have more space even though there is one less bedroom. We have great neighbors, no more walking through a cloud of cigarette smoke to get the mail. Really, this was a great change for us.

This summer I had the opportunity to be on the Girls Camp Committee for our ward. I had so much fun and I love the girls. To my surprise, I was called to be the Young Women's President in July. Yes, I know that may seem like a typo because I am barely even out of young women's but apparently, this is where I am supposed to be. This calling has been challenging for me. My ward is very different than the ward I grew up in but, it seems to be going well.

As far as work goes, Cameron is loving his new job in ICU, this is where he is supposed to be. He doesn't seem to dread going to work like he used to. I was lucky enough to get hired at the hospital too, I am now working on the Medical Oncology floor and I have loved every minute of it. I do miss all my friends in the Alzheimer's unit at my old job but, I still get to visit them every once in a while.

Cameron and I were lucky enough to visit Hawaii again in August. It was so much fun! We are so lucky that my parents have a time-share-like hotel, and that they invite us to go with them.

The Cook's even came out for the Cook Family reunion in July and it was so good to see them and catch up in person rather than over the phone!

Here are some photos of our summer time adventures!!

The Waterfalls at Gunlock for Brittnie's Birthday (Sorry no Cameron, he was working)



Pretending to Fall



Actually Falling




4th of July Firework Extravaganza





Sparklers!





Cameron's New Breakfast- Eggs in a Blanket



Ice Blocking with the Young Women





We took an overnight trip to Las Vegas and stayed at the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street. These are the only photos we have because our camera died. At our hotel, there was an awesome pool with a water slide that went through a shark tank. We also ate at the Rio Buffet, there was so much food and it was all so good!

Our Hotel Room



Fremont Street




The Cook family reunion
Sarah, Alisha and I just before our lip sync to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"



Cameron and Braeden being Susan's stubborn Oxen for our Pioneer Day celebration with the Wise's



Hiking in Zion



Maui!!




Our amazing hotel




Celebrating Cameron's 29th Birthday, he got some sour candy and a new swimsuit!



Snorkeling





Playing Bocce Ball




My new friend Sophie and I at the Blowhole




Cool Tree in Lahaina



Duke's Beach House with the Burr's




Cameron and his finished bucket of sea creatures




The Dolphin Tour



My mom got in the water!!




Scenic Photos





In September, Kevin had a work conference in California. We drove out to see him and spent a day at Disneyland! We made a lot of fun memories!

Cameron and Braeden were super excited!!



The Grand Californian Hotel



The Giant Lego Giraffe



The Haunted Mansion




3D glasses Photo while in line for the New Star Wars Ride





Well, that's about all for the Summer of 2011. We look forward to many more adventures to come!