Look what the blizzard blew in!

We're so excited to introduce Anna Christine Hawkins!

She was born at 7:25 AM yesterday morning (Wednesday)!

7 lbs. 13 oz. 21 inches long

She has my nose and Bevan's DARK hair!!! Dark I say!!!

It was like something out of a movie. I was stranded, in the valley, an hour away from my hospital AND my husband, in a snow storm, IN LABOR! Here's the story:

Tuesday morning I made my normal trip to Salt Lake to run errands and tie up some business. I felt kind of pukey the whole morning, but I just kept plugging along. It might have been that I snowblowed the day before or the extremely low barometric pressure. Something got me triggered. I had planned to stay in Salt Lake for the night because of a "blizzard warning" and then hit up my doctor appointment on my way home the next morning in Park City. Around 5 pm I started having contractions. I was sure I could just "will" them away and make it until the next morning. The biggest storm of the year so far was just hitting the valley and I couldn't go anywhere! Well, baby had other ideas. I waited out the bad part of the storm at my parents house and we finally drove over to the Murray hospital around midnight, instead of chancing Parley's Canyon. Thank heavens for the network of hospitals! Bevan was summoned around 4 AM when it was finally safe to travel down the canyon. After a long, sleepless, delirious night, Anna was born first thing in the morning, after 2 hours of painful labor (I had to "prove" myself), 5 more hours of not-so-painful labor, and 10 minutes of pushing. Whoopee!

I'm so glad everything worked out and she wasn't born on the side of a road somewhere. That's the true spirit of thanksgiving. I'm greatful for local hospitals. I'm greatful for supportive family. I'm greatful for adorable baby girls who couldn't wait another minute to play in the snow. We love our Anna!

Birthday Love!

I can't believe my man is 32 years old!!! Where does the time go?!

The day didn't start out with much potential. Due to a scheduling error (not my fault) we got signed up to go to the dentist. What a way to spend your birthday. I could only imagine how it would go for him:

It actually went really well! Our new dentist is super cool, we didn't have any cavities, and Bevan was able to do some ward missionary work.

Bevan had to spend the rest of the day at work, but we did drive down to Salt Lake afterwards for dinner and a Jazz game (thanks, Tim, for the sweet tickets!). The Jazz won and made it all the better!

We drove home and finished the day with Bevan's very own BTS cake. I goofed and didn't poke enough holes for the sweetened condensed milk so it ended up being a little dry, but still very tasty. Happy birthday Bevan!!!

In baby news... I'm now at that point where it could be tomorrow or 2 more weeks! The snow tires have been mounted, the oil has been changed, the wood has been stacked, the bag is packed and waiting in the trunk... which means I will go 2 weeks over, just because I tried to be prepared. That's just how it goes, I guess!

Luckyyyyyy!

My awesome sister Nora came home yesterday with her sweet new baby, Isaac. She's amazing in the way she knows "mothering" like Bevan knows BYU football. She just knows everything! I decided to be helpful and put my unemployment time to good use by watching her kids. I'm glad we only have babies one at a time (usually). Four all at once can be overwhelming. It's all worth it when you see something like this...

I just have to comment on the themed sleeper suit with coordinating receiving blanket. Now if I can only find a matching blanket for this (nesting item of the week)...

If she takes her time, this MAY end up being her going-home outfit after all. What newborn doesn't need her own down-filled, fleece-lined powder suit?! The legs can either zip together (like a sleeping bag) or stay apart (for car seats and backpacks). It was a steal on Sierra Trading Post. I don't care much for the horse pattern, but when something retails for $85 and you snag it for $25, pattern takes a back seat.

I did have another appointment yesterday. The baby is definitely taking it's time. My body hasn't even begun to show signs of deliverance (ya know, ripening, effacing, cutting the cord, etc.). My doc said that "that's what labor is for". Rats. I thought I could just skip that part. Not everything is as easy as buying equestrian-themed baby outfits.

Nesting Update

I remember that day when Bevan came to move me out of my apartment at USU, right before we got married. Everything I owned was able to fit in the back of the subaru.

How times have changed!

A few weeks ago, we were driving home after a baby shower that my sweet MIL threw for me. Everything the baby now owned BARELY fit in the back of the subaru. Good grief! Combine that with the loot she got from a previous shower and the little person growing inside of me has more stuff than I do! I guess it's all part of the process of becoming responsible parents. We then carted in the epic cradle that has been passed on throughout the family. When I was little, we used to keep our stuffed animals in it. It never occurred to me that a real baby could ever sleep in it. It turns out that many babies have slept in it... and now it's our turn! It's so fancy-looking, it looks out of place in our bedroom. It definitely wins the award for "nesting item of the week".

In other news, Bevan has started his "winter employment". It's still 60 degrees and sunny outside, but they keep him busy for a couple weeks with indoor training anyway. My own employment has slowed to the point where I get to start collecting unemployment compensation, but I am not complaining! The pregnant belly was cute at first, but now it's grown massive and rounded. The delightful, excited looks I used to get from clients have now turned sympathetic: "When are you due again?"