Q U E Z A D A

A Big Re-do...

2010-11-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

I have no excuse. Can I have a re-do on this blog thing? Last time I visited I was 7 ish months pregnant, but now I have a ten month old. It must seem like I was pregnant for a decade, but our sweet baby boy did greet us on December 14, a week before my due date. I suppose I need to document the highlights since I am the worst blogger ever. I really don't have any reasons to not have been on here, laziness maybe. But, this is a public declaration that I am going to be a better blogger. So, here are the highlights from our crazy lives thus far

1) My cousin Nina came home from her mission to Busan, Korea. She was a little shocked to see me, considering before she left I just had met Doug. I am on the fast track--dated, engaged, married, and very pregnant in 18 months. Yay Sister Hill.

Waiting for Sister Hill

2) Labor & Delivery: I went into labor at 3 am. My water broke, just hours before I was scheduled to take my last college final. (That didn't happen til 5 months later. :) ) I went into the hospital in Salt Lake around 6 am. And, I waited and contracted, and waited some more. To make an 18 hour story, slightly shorter, I got an IV of pitocin, started contracting too hard, baby went into distress (along with mom) and things got scary. After not sleeping for two days, and no food (who does that to a pregnant woman? never say she can't eat! I was starving!)

I started to fade my 18th hour of natural labor. My cousin happened to be there at the hospital (an amazing anestheisiologist) when I needed to go into an emergency c-section. So, he got to administer my epidural for surgery. I was rushed into surgery, and the baby was out in 8 minutes. Go team! And I was fortunate enough to be awake for the surgery.
At 9:36pm Monday, December 14th, I finally was a mom. Five days later, I got to go home with my baby boy. A healthy 7lb 12 oz, 22 inch long baby. Whew! :) Welcome, Nicholas Simon Quezada.

3) Merry Christmas! In our tiny little 3rd story apartment, we had a very interesting but special Christmas. To me, Christmas was a lot different this time around, having just experienced first hand of what we celebrate during the season: love, joy, family, charity, togetherness, and a baby sent from heaven. I'm not comparing my son to the Savior, but for now he is closer to Him than most of us are (right now that is). I definitely could empathize with Mary during the holiday season. Nicholas is a true blessing, and the best Christmast present I will ever get. Such a healthy and happy baby boy.

As for holiday celebration, we had family from both sides with us for Christmas and New Year's. It was a lot of people, but we managed. This was Doug and my first Christmas together, which was pretty weird because we had already had a family within a year's time. It was a Christmas I will never forget.

The List Continues...

2010-03-16T12:56:00.001-07:00

4) Our First Anniversary-By our first year of marriage, I had a two week old baby. I was still recovering and enduring, so Doug had some sympathy and let me off the hook this year. :) I woke up to a giant gorilla (something I would never forget- I LOVE gorillas) and a homemade breakfast. Doug is amazing at special occasions, and definitely knows how to make me feel like a queen. Thanks, Baby. Good thing we have an infinite number of anniversaries so I can make it up to you.

Dinner at Chef's Table

5) Nicholas's first trip; Baby Blessing-

A thirteen hour car ride was a challenge with a six week old baby, but we made it. We came to Santa Barbara, California to bless Nicholas at church. No, he is not 6 weeks in this picture, but three months. We took an extended stay vacation...both of his grandparents didn't mind. And, Mommy needed more than two hours of consecutive sleep!

He was so good during his blessing, it was a wonderful experience.

Laughed and giggled the whole day.

Resumed favorite nap position with Daddy.

I'm a very tired Mom in this picture. Don't move, he's sleeping; which was a blessed and rare occasion for him at that age.

The lovely ladies who attended the "Meet the Baby" baby shower at Linda Elton's house (my 2nd mom). Thank you, thank you! It was a blast.

Blessing outfit.

"Who are these crazy people?!"

My favorite face ever. How can you resist smudging the cutest face ever!!!

And, NO...this was not planned. Nicholas's older cousin Kaiden had matching pj's.

Model Mommy: Maternity Photo

2009-10-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

What a treat! My good friend from Santa Barbara came to town to shoot engagement pictures for a couple here in Utah. It was wonderful to see her, even for the short amount of time. I was fortunate to put her skills to the test. I actually fit in the frame of the picture still. Thanks Aunt Kathy for letting us use your house. Sophie has become quite the amazing photographer!
Photos by Sophie Marie Murdoch.
Check her stuff out at http://mikelarson.com/sophie

Who says pregnant isn't sexy?

Now, I almost officially look like a mom...
On the left, an action shot of a contraction.

Eight weeks and counting...

Lucky #3: Finally, The Third Trimester

2009-10-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

Are you really doing this to me now? The computer is no longer on my lap, but rests about on my knees these days. The face says it all.

Here I am in all my glory--31 weeks, which is 7 1/2 months ish, for those who are not living your life week by week. Gestation is some what ambiguous in measurement. You are really pregnant (theoretically) for 40 weeks, but it is divided into three, three month intervals. So, once you finally survived your third trimester, most women are still pregnant with a few more weeks to endure. If this baby drops any lower, he might just come right out...so let's hope he cooks a little longer. Yay for the uncomfortable stage...

This is my "I think I just got a karate-chop in my hip" face. Caught in the act.
Think: "Happy Pregnancy!"

The Belly: Good Things Come In LARGE Packages, Too.

2009-09-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

This is my "Sneetch" belly, as my sister so kindly pointed out. All I need is a star on my belly, like Dr. Suess' "Yellow-bellied Sneetches". Me at 21 weeks.

And, here I am at 23 weeks. Excuse the bad hair day.

Cruisin' Powell

2009-09-12T20:24:00.000-07:00

We went to Lake Powell this July with our growing family and my awesome aunt and uncle from Maryland and their five kids. Here is what I did most of the summer... My activities included: sitting, holding babies, while gestating my own.

This is Doug.

And here
(on the right).

Let's put life into perspective-
Last year at LP:
I wasn't even engaged.
This year at LP:
I was five months pregnant.
Next year at LP:
I will have a seven month old little boy.
That's insanity. But, the good kind.

It's a...

2009-07-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

The suspense (anxiety in Doug's case) was killing us yesterday. We left the ultrasound clinic at University Hospital during the morning with the sex of the baby sealed in an envelope, which we dropped off at my Aunt Kathy's house in Orem. She, being the only one knowing the gender of the baby, baked a cake (from scratch!)and filled it with the appropriate colored filling
(blue if it was a boy; pink if it was a girl).

That afternoon, we all got together at her place with everybody around, connecting also with our families in California via Skype.

Once we had everybody gathered, Doug and I cut the cake and saw that the filling was... blue!
It's a boy!!

I pretty much already knew this whole time, but Doug kept stringing me along saying "You never know! It's really a fifty-fifty chance of it being either!" I guess there's no avoiding the "Mom Instinct." Doug and I are so incredibly blessed to bring yet another Quezada boy into the world. Plus, I hear boys tend to be closer to their mothers, anyway.

Thanks to Kath for the cake, Rich for the house, and my cousin Nat for the idea.

Our Wedding Trailer

2009-05-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Lauren & Douglas Quezada Wedding Trailer from Chris McClain Productions

Nothing Short of a Miracle...

2009-05-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Against all odds- and physicians- I am now two months pregnant and due mid December. Doug and I are truly excited and can only attribute this pure miracle to God. We were sure surprised, as were both families knowing my previous complications. However, again--like our wedding--our timing of big life events is a little inconvenient for most involved but perfect, nonetheless. So, every day is a new symptom...I guess they say: "The sicker, the better." Things are going right so far. I guess now I have a way to keep people updated. Yay for Blogs.