Updates - Cloth Diapers, Freezer Cooking, and Life

Let me share some of the new things in my life that bring a smile to my face. I love cloth diapers and freezer cooking. I love couponing and I love being a mom.

Cloth Diapers
After much research I discovered Cloth Diapers and all the benefits that come along with such an old technique. I always pictured Cloth Diapers (CD) as those white towel-thingy's that you fold with a safety pin and then cover with some plastic bloomers...but that is not what they are anymore. They are these adorable fabric prints with snaps or Velcro. Even though they look so cute and accentuate the bummie...I was still very hesitant to try them. A friend of mine made this post Going With Cloth and she made me think "maybe this isn't such a difficult and gross thing after all" and that was really the beginning. I searched for good deals because Cloth Diapers are quite the investment. I found this company - Just Simply Baby - and decided it was time to give it a try. They have the best prices around and their prints are so much cuter than the boring basic colors that some big name companies are doing and they are very similar to the brand BumGenius that I was looking into getting. This company also gives you a 30day Money Back Guarantee JUST IN CASE the CD stuff is not for everyone...although, from what I have read and who I know that uses CD's, if you have tried them, you love them and it then becomes really hard to go back to Disposable Diapers.

For our little family, it isn't much work and doesn't take much time. I will say that I was having a rough time a couple weeks ago with not being able to get all the smell out, but after switching up the Laundry Day Routine I have finally found what works and they no longer stink!! YAY!!!! I was about ready to give up but just the thought of having to go buy disposables at Walmart or Target, or wherever, and spending that extra money made me sick to my stomach. I am NOT doing CD's as a "way to go green" or any of that stuff...I am doing it because of the money saver.

I feel like I just dumped all my thoughts on you about Cloth Diapers...so if you have any questions...message me on FB or at NikDawnaBerry@gmail.com.

Freezer Cooking
Back in December I found a Pin on Pinterest that gave some recipes to make up and put in your freezer for later use. I talked my cousin, Arianna, into doing this with me and we had fun. The recipes were a flop but the concept was something we both loved. So, I hunted down some websites and found two awesome places...Once a Month Mom and What's Cooking, Chicago?

They have some amazing recipes and they are so simple. Arianna and I have been doing this for just over a month now and we see the benefits. Go check out my other blog DawnaDinners and you can read the full story and get some of the recipes that I have tried and loved.

Over the weekend Nik bought me my Valentines Gift/Tax Return Celebration/Smart Buy....my Chest Freezer. We got it at Costco because that was the best deal in town. I am so excited to fill it with frugal finds....i.e. Milk when it is on sale, bread when on sale, Home Cooked Freezer Dinners, Tatum's home made baby food, and so much more. It just made sense to get it and savet that money in the long run.

Nikolas
Nik got a new job with GoDaddy and was able to quit his old job at QBE/BofA and Domino's. GoDaddy is a company he has wanted to work with for a while. He got the job 4 weeks ago and it is so nice to have him come home happy instead of grumpy. Nik does so much for our family because he loves us and he has always wanted me to be able to stay home with our children. He was working 3 jobs at one point for a few weeks and then dropped down to 2 jobs until last week and now just has 1 job and school.

Me
I have picked up the new hobby/talent of Freezer Cooking. It sure is a lot of work for one day buy definitely pays off in the days that follow. I enjoy staying home with Tatum and I have many friends that come visit us. I have picked back up Couponing and love the savings! Arianna comes over and coupons with me and then we shop together and find the best deals. We are such a good team!

Tatum
Tatum is 8.5 months old and has 6 pearly whites. She just barely started Army Crawling this last week and I'm sure she will be up on her knees in no time. She loves all her Veggies and her Fruits. She loves to play with other babies but sometimes she scares them because she gets so excited and shrieks. hahaha. She gives kisses on command and we are trying to teach her how to wave. She definitely lights up our world. I can't believe where I was 1 year ago and where I am now. Nik and I are so happy with our little family.

Life As We Know It...

...is better than any dream!

Tatum is now 5 months and is growing so fast! I love it!

I feel like my life is finally beginning to settle down. I get more sleep and I am understanding more of what she wants. My house is cleaner and I don't need as many naps anymore. She is happier and I am happier and Nik is just as happy as ever!

Here are some pictures of the last few months.

June 2011

Few Weeks Old

 -Still had to wake up every 3 hours to nurse her.

-Aunt Amy made the blue flower headband

-The I <3 DAD shirt was what I gave him to tell him I was pregnant.

July 2011

1 Month Old

 -Finally allowed to let her sleep through the night...and she did just that!

-Went swimming for the first time. Wasn't a fan when she was not holding onto someone.

-She loved dancing with her Daddy...inside Walgreens. haha

-Her and her Daddy are twins. The bottom right picture is them having fun at Red Robin.

August 2011

2 Months Old

 -She loves taking naps with her Daddy...so cuddly.

September 2011

3 Months Old

 -She didn't gain a single ounce all month so we switched to formula.

-Still napping with Daddy every chance she got.

-She started smiling for things other than the passing of gas :)

-She loved to nap on Nonnie (right there in the center) every time the family got together.

-She started using her Bumbo and that little chair has been AWESOME!

-She rolled over on my birthday!! That's all I wanted from her. haha

 September 2011

Labor Day Swim Party

 -I didn't get swim diapers for this one event...so she wore a regular one 

and it was funny to see her big behind! haha

-She had so much fun and we all were loving it.

September 23-26, 2011

Oceanside, CA

(more pictures on the big camera will be uploaded soon)

-She had fun with her Berry family.

-The ocean was something she could watch all day.

-She was so exhausted from the day and after throwing a fit she fell asleep hardcore
(bottom right picture)

-Showing off her good looks with Auntie Amy's sunglasses

(bottom center picture)

-We walked all afternoon using the Moby Warp and it was AWESOME!
(bottom left picture. Thank you Gma Berry!)

October 2011

4 Months Old

 

-She keeps rolling over from her back to stomach. So fun!

-She makes raspberries with her lips and spits bubbles out while she's at it.

-She takes naps in her crib.

-She sleeps around 11 hours a night!

-She loves to grab anything and everything...and her favorites are my hair, my glasses, and my lips.

-She does little ab exercises in the bath and in her car seat and it is adorable!

-She can sit up a little better by herself when on your lap but not yet on her own. (if that makes sense)

-She jabbers all the time.

-She loves go to on walks in her stroller.

-She is smiling and laughing so much...and it just melts my heart.

-She has been wearing 6 months clothes for the last month and it makes me kinda sad.

Now that we are pretty much caught up, I hope to update this blog more often. 

Times have been hard being a new mom, I won't lie or try to deceive, but it has been so worth it! When she does something funny or learns something new or even smiles and laughs, that totally makes you forget the rough times when all she wanted to do was cry. She is getting so much better and more regular with her routines and I am so blessed. Being a mom is so fun! This is the best "job" I have ever had!

Tatum's Story

Let's get one thing clear:

Due Date: June 24, 2011

Birthday: May 25, 2011

Big Surprise

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It started on May 24th. I was getting ready to go grocery shopping and was just about to head out the door when I decided to check Facebook real quick. My friend, Nichole Q, said she needed a babysitter for the afternoon so she could run some errands. I decided it would be a good way to earn a few bucks and then I could go grocery shopping after. Funny thing is Nichole asked me how long I could stay and I responded with "All day. Heck, all I gotta do nowadays is bake this baby." (oh gosh, shouldn't have said that.) So I headed on over there at 11:45am. I needed to stop at our storage unit on my way to grab a few things. I got there at 12:15pm and grabbed my items. The manager came out to talk with me and made a comment about how big I was. I told him I wasn't due for another month. His eyes got big and he told me good luck. I finished lifting the boxes back into the unit and left for Nichole's house.

I got to Nichole's around 12:30pm and she gave me the low down on when the other kids were going to be home and what the little one was up to. She finally left the house around 12:40pm. I sat at the computer with the little one as she played some computer games. I decided I was thirsty so I got up to get a drink and...that's when it happened...my water broke!! I freaked out. Weird feeling! I ran softly to my purse to grab my phone and call Nichole. She wasn't even gone 10 minutes when I was crying and telling her to come get me. She rushed back home, took her daughter to the neighbor, and then took me to Banner Gateway. I called Nik but he didn't answer (I figured as much because he was at work) and then I called my mom.

I was so scared. She was only 35weeks and 4days along. She was not suppose to arrive for another month! I didn't have anything ready. No bags packed. No crib set up. No maternity pictures taken or labor/delivery classes attended. Nothing.

Nichole stayed with me while I was getting admitted until Nik showed up. I had sent him a few texts to let him know my water broke, that we were having this baby now, and that he needed to get down here as soon as possible. He got to the hospital faster than I thought and at that time Nichole left to go back home. My grandma and grandpa showed up, as they live half a mile from the hospital, and gave me words of encouragement as I was still kind of freaking out. They are awesome.

I was then taken into my delivery room where they checked me and I was only dilated to 1cm and 0% effaced. They gave me some medication to soften things up and get things going but no Pitocin to induce labor. The nurses wanted to me try on my own and then after 18 hours if nothing had progressed they would induce my labor.

Family stopped by to see me. All my family and Nik’s family were so supportive and loving. Amy played some Blokus with me to try and get my mind distracted from the pain. Other family watched my favorite movies on TV with me and Nik was a great husband rubbing my back when I was having contractions.

By 8pm I couldn’t take the pain any longer. The contractions were getting stronger but I didn’t want an epidural just yet. I was not ready to give up my mobility when sitting on the bouncy ball was the most comfortable position for me. I don’t remember what the nurses gave me…but it was a miracle worker for a while. I remember the nurse screwing the medicine tube onto my IV and injecting it but then I conked out right away. I don’t even remember her unscrewing the tube. I was asleep! It was marvelous! I no longer was thinking about the pain or my hunger. (Heck, I hadn’t eaten since 10am that morning! I was starving!)

At 10pm I had had enough with the contractions and that previous medication wasn’t working anymore. I had everyone go home and then I received my epidural. That thing was nice…for a little bit and then the pain was coming back even harder. I was still dilated to a 1cm and decided to get some sleep because she obviously wasn’t going to come for a while.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Nik laid on the little sofa sleeper and I was curled up in a ball in my bed. Hours went by and I tried to tolerate the pain. The nurse came in at 1am to see if I had made any progress. I was dilated to 2cm at that point. I went back to sleep for a few more hours. Nik’s snoring wass comforting as I slept and then to hear my baby’s heartbeat on the monitor…that just made my night. It was so nice hearing both of them and knowing what a happy family we were about to become.

At 3am the nurse came in again to give me more medication and checked if I was progressing any more. I was then at a 4cm. The pain was getting worse and worse and I couldn’t lay there alone while Nik was across the room. I had him sit in the rocker next to me and hold my hand. That worked for a little bit and I got some more rest.

Two more hours had passed and 5am arrived. I called the nurse in for more medication because the pain became so intense I was in tears. She checked and said “It makes sense, you are at a 10. You are ready to push.” Nik popped straight up and was wide awake. I was freaking out because, well, I had never done this before. I was about to have our baby. Nik texted our immediate family to let them know so they could come down to the waiting room until she had arrived. The nurse called Dr. Beck and then I started pushing. Dr. Beck showed up about 20 minutes later for a brief second. He left the room as the nurse kept helping me. Nik was a trooper staying right there holding my hand and brushing my hair and giving me words of encouragement. He was great!

Around 5:40am Dr. Beck showed back up and helped with the last couple pushes.

She arrived at 5:48am on May 25th weighing in at 6lbs and 19.5inches long. Nik cut her cord and she was swept away to get cleaned up.

Now because she was a month early her little lungs were not up to par. They were still wet and she had a hard time keeping them inflated while grunting and trying to use her stomach muscles, which is not what she was suppose to be doing. They brought her over to me for some loving in hopes that would help her calm down but after 10 minutes there was still no change. The nurses took her to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and that was the last I saw of her until that evening. I was the only one that was able to hold her and because it was so brief, it all felt like a dream.

While I was laboring I kept thinking about names. I really really really liked the name Ayrika since I was in Jr High and always wanted to name my first daughter Ayrika Genette (Genette is my middle name), but for some reason Tatum just kept popping up. I couldn’t think about Ayrika long enough to even spell it in my head without the name Tatum creeping in. I would try to think of other names that Nik and I agreed on but Tatum was the only one that would linger. Once she was born I told Nik this and we agreed her name should be Tatum Genette Berry. It just felt so right and we were so happy. We know she will always have to spell her name because it is different, but Nikolas and I both had to our whole lives and you know what, it made for great conversations sometimes. So either way with Ayrika (Erika) or Tatum she would have to spell it. Makes life fun, right?!

That night I was able to walk down to the NICU and see her. She had machines on her and all I could do was touch her. It was difficult to see her in that state but I must say that we were blessed that all we had to worry about were her lungs developing and nothing worse.

Our families had come back that evening to see how we were doing. We were able to take them in to see Tatum just one at a time. Definitely not how I had imagined my hospital stay with our baby. I had always dreamed of having visitors and friends come by and see us. I had a few friends ask if they could but since all I wanted was sleep and they couldn’t even see Tatum, I declined the offers, as generous as they were.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Dr. Beck came in to check on me and then I went to check on Tatum. She had made a little progress with her C-Pap machine but she still had to wear it to help her breathe and keep the right amount of oxygen in her blood. She also had an IV with antibiotics. In an x-ray they found a fuzzy spot in her right lung that looked like it could be pneumonia but they weren’t sure because all other signs that would point towards pneumonia were not present, but to be on the safe side they gave her the antibiotics anyways. I was fine with that, better safe than sorry. She was to be on the meds for 7 days…which meant she wouldn’t be coming home until after she finished the 7 days. That was a little hard for me to handle but the nurses were kind and made me feel more comfortable. Nobody plans on seeing the inside of a NICU. It was rough. I shed a few tears because that wasn’t how I wanted to see my baby. I wanted to see her in a cradle next to my bed. I wanted to see her pretty little face without the mask. But nevertheless, this is the hand we were dealt and I was glad it wasn’t worse.

Family stopped by here and there. My mom came over to keep me company because Nik went back to work that day. So when she wasn’t with me I was either sleeping or eating the wonderful feast from the cafeteria…and no, there is not sarcasm in that sentence. I loved the food and miss it dearly. Have you tried their carrot cake?! I’m not the biggest fan but theirs is the best I have ever had. Do you think they will do my birthday cake for me in September? I should start asking now and plant some catering seeds in their head, right?! I’d say so!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Dr. Beck showed up first thing in the morning again to see how I was doing. I was actually doing very well…as long as I had my medication nearby. I went and checked on Tatum after I ate my breakfast feast. She was off the C-Pap machine and now just on the oxygen tubes that were connected to the wall. She made a great improvement over night and I was so happy! Tatum’s nurse, Denise, said that we could have some Kangaroo Time (skin-to-skin) at 2pm. I was so excited! Studies have shown that babies that have skin-to-skin time with their mothers have a shorter stay in the NICU. It helps out the baby and the mother.

At 2pm I showed up for her feeding and for the Kangaroo Time. It was wonderful to hold her again! I laid in the chair with her on my chest and we both fell asleep until 5pm. I felt so much better about the whole situation because I knew it was benefiting the both of us.

I was discharged that night after her 8pm feeding. Nik was able to help with that, holding her for the first time since she was born. He changed her diaper, fed and burped her the best he could. I say the best he could because she kept falling asleep in his arms. Don’t blame her, he is one heck of a cuddler. Leaving the hospital that night without her was rough. I cried for a good portion of the night while Nik held me close. He was such a big help and comforted me through all my tears.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

I went down to the hospital at 11am for that feeding. She had jaundice and needed a Bili-light but I still changed her diaper, fed and burped her and then I went to my grandparent’s house for my lunch. Grandma was nice and made me lunch every day that I showed up. At 2pm I went back for her feeding and Kangaroo Time. We napped together under the Bili-light until her 5pm feeding and after I helped with that feeding I left to go home. Man, being under that light was so hot, but I got a nice tan! NOT!

"My future is so bright I gotta wear my shades!"

Sunday, May 29, 2011

When I arrived at the hospital Tatum had shown some big signs of improvement but still needed a little bit of oxygen to help her out. Her nurse, Denise, was hoping that during Kangaroo Time that day we could wean her off the oxygen. At 2pm we did our Kangaroo Time and when I woke up at 5pm Denise had told me they cut off the oxygen at 3:45pm while we were asleep and that she has been breathing on her own ever since. Tears came from my eyes as I saw a light at the end of the tunnel! I was skipping for joy as I left the hospital because all that needed to happen now was for Tatum to finish off the 7 days of antibiotics and then she could be discharged Wednesday, June 1^st. I was excited!

 Before

 After

Monday, May 30, 2011

Nik and I headed down to the hospital at 11am for her feeding and then for my Kangaroo Time with Tatum. Nik dropped me off and he hung out at my grandparent’s house until 2pm when it was time to pick me up. We tried breastfeeding for the first time and she did great! We couldn’t do it before because of her oxygen tubes. Kangaroo Time was awesome and then it was time to go to lunch. Nik picked me up and we headed back to my grandparent’s house for lunch. At 5pm we were able to go back to the hospital for Nik to have some Kangaroo Time with Tatum. He sat in one chair while I sat in another chair. He loved it and I loved it too. It was so sweet to see him holding her and to see her so comfortable in his arms. My heart just melted.

Then after their Kangaroo Time was up the Doctor came in to give us an update on how Tatum was doing. Last night was her first night without the oxygen and she ended up having another little bump in the road. She had a little Apnea issue where her heart rate slowed way down and her oxygen level had dropped. Because a nurse had to go in and stimulate her heart back up to normal they had to count that and keep her for another 5 days. It broke my heart. If she had brought her heart rate back to normal on her own they wouldn’t have dinged her but because she didn’t and she needed the help of a nurse they wanted to keep her a little longer to make sure it didn’t happen again. Of course I was sad but I was also glad that it happened while she was there and being monitored instead of happening at home and not knowing what the outcome would have been. Again, so blessed for modern medicine and being able to catch this early. So now, instead of our wishful discharge day of Wednesday…it then became Saturday. Yes, more time to prepare for her at home but definitely not the pretty picture I had always dreamed of.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

No big changes here because all that is left is finishing off the antibiotics and then waiting out the extra 5 days until she can come home.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Tatum is now a week old and finally free of all machinery and tubes! I arrived at the hospital and was smiling from ear to ear. This was going to be a wonderful day. I stayed for her feeding and Kangaroo Time and then left for home. I was able to give her a bath while there and put her in some clothes. She still had monitors hooked up to her but no IV or breathing tubes.

Let's jump to

Saturday June 4, 2011

I only jump ahead because the previous 2 days were the same story. Because there is nothing to improve on and we just have to wait, there isn’t much of a story.

Anyways…Saturday morning rolled around I called the NICU as soon as I woke up at 6am. I needed to make sure that nothing happened over night to keep her any longer. They said she was good to go and that she would be sent home as soon as the Doctor made her rounds and cleared her. So I went back to be, although I couldn’t sleep that well, and got up at 8am to get ready. Nik and I left for the hospital around 11am to make her last feeding. Up to this point whenever I have been there for her feeding we have been able to breastfeed and she is a champ! People say that once they have a bottle nipple they have nipple confusion and can’t breastfeed. Not the case over with this Berry family! We are troopers!!

 This was her outfit to go home in.

Her Auntie Carrot made it for her.

So Nik and I sat around for another hour after her feeding waiting for the Doctor to arrive. As soon as we heard the Doctor we ripped open our curtains to make sure she knew we were there waiting! She came over and took off her monitors, gave us some advice, and then said we could take her home! Denise, her nurse that has been with her all but 2 days, gave us our discharge instructions, I signed some papers, and then we put her in her car seat and left the building! It was so wonderful to walk out of the door with Nik carrying Tatum in her car seat in one hand and my hand in the other! This is the way life is supposed to be. I couldn’t have been any happier in that moment.

 Grabbing a picture with her awesome nurse, Denise, before we left!

We took her to the families to visit and then we went home. It was quite the day and we were all exhausted.
Tatum did a pretty decent job at home in her cradle that first night…considering the fact her environment was completely different that was she was used to. In the NICU it was constant lights and noise and here in our room it was silence and darkness. She was up and fussy and crying for a good portion of the night but that was all to be expected. This is all new for us as we get into a better routine.

Monday, June 6, 2011 

Tatum saw her Pediatrician and she said that Tatum looks great for her being a preemie. Tatum is in the 10th percentile for her height and weight, but that was to be expected. We have another follow-up appointment for next Tuesday.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Tatum was given her first bath at home. She wasn't a happy camper but we had to do it anyways. Hopefully she will warm up to it and like it in the future. But goodness...she was awful cute wrapped up in that little towel.

The days that followed have been wonderful. I am trying to do better with Becoming Baby Wise. It sure is a difficult one but I’m trying to be confident it will pay off in a few short weeks. Nik is awesome at being supportive and helpful when I need it most. And Tatum is great at making us smile.

My First Quilt. Her First Quilt.

Yep!

I did it!

I used a sewing machine for the first time

And made a quilt for my Little Jewel.

The only down side to having this quilt for her...

....I wanna wrap her up in it

RIGHT NOW!

I hold it so tight picturing her in the middle.

Agh!

I love it

I love her

I love life!

I took this class at Scrapbooks, Etc.

Love that place!

They have fabric and scrapbook supplies.

It is awesome!

The class was Friday night.

Started at 5pm and lasted until 11:30pm.

Let me tell ya....that went FAST!

When I got to class the instructor explained how to make the quilt.

The first step was to make the X's in the squares to bind all 3 layers

And then to sew the squares into rows and the rows into a blanket.

Well, I am a bit OCD about some things.

Especially permanent things I make.

So I spent the first HOUR drawing X's with a straight edge ruler

Onto the top layer so everything would be perfect.

Little did I know....

....it is much harder for an inexperienced sewer to sew straight lines.

haha.

So that HOUR was wasted.

No straight lines

Whatsoever

But I love it!

I spent an hour or two cutting the fabric

Then from 5-11:30pm sewing.

Went home and showed Nik the unfinished quilt.

I still had some energy and was on a roll...

so I pulled out my machine again and sewed from Midnight to 1am.

After that, Nik and I went to bed.

The next morning I spent 3+hours cutting the edges to make it raggedy.

Washed it a few times...

....and this is what I got!

(and you can't forget the 2+hours I spent trying to pick out the fabric

while my Grandma Allred was ever-so patient with me.

Just a LITTLE indecisive sometimes.)

Look Ma, I can sew!!!

My Little Jewel's first quilt!

I LOVE IT!!!

Front

Back

And then here are some pictures of me the same day.

Haven't had any belly pictures in a while

So I figured it was time.

 31 weeks 3 days.

 Dear Baby Berry,

I hope you love the quilt I made for you.

You dad and I love it.

It was made with you in mind

And I can't wait to wrap you up inside it.

Or to take you to the park and let you play on it.

You are getting so big and time left is getting so small.

I love how you kick and move so much more every day

Even when it hurts me.

You get the hiccups at least once a day

And last night your Gma and Gpa Berry got to feel them

And so did your Auntie Amy.

I know you might not have liked the hiccups all that much

Because sometimes they do hurt

But it was fun to feel each little one.

And it is fun to feel you wrestle around trying to get rid of them.

Your dad gets hiccups bad too,

So you aren't alone in that aspect.

I just want you to know that

I love knowing that you are my little girl and I am your mommy!

That your daddy is so excited to make you laugh

With raspberries on YOUR stomach.

Oh, and can't forget about next Easter.

Gma Berry is excited to have another little one decorating eggs.

Your Uncle Sam and your daddy are good at it.

They can show you are the cool tricks.

And the Easter egg hunt at Nanu's is a BIG DEAL...

....you we will need to get you some good running shoes!

We need to be the first to find the Purple Polka Dotted egg, k?

Then we win!

Just giving you a heads-up on the awesome family you have!

Everyone is so excited to meet you in 8ish short weeks!

Love,

Mom

All Dogs Go To Heaven

This post is dedicated to my sister, Caren, my family, and all those whose lives were blessed by this precious little dog.

Kitah: All smiles, all love, and random Happy Piddles.

Her story:
Caren and I were out at Target one night and as we walked from our car to the store we saw a family trying to sell their Rottweilers out of the back of their truck. They were puppies at the time and so cute but we had to decline because they grow up too big and too rough for our liking. We told that to the wife, said our "good lucks" and walked on into Target. As we were coming out of Target the wife approached us again. She said she had a little dog that they just couldn't take care of and they felt the dog needed a better home. She showed us the little female Pomeranian in the back seat and she was as cute as a button! The price they wanted was extremely fair and Caren took her up on the offer.
It was just about 2 years ago last month that she joined our family. Kitah was so pretty and wonderful and sweet. Here are some memories we have of her and that we want to keep in our hearts forever.

Dad, Mom, Baylee, Caren, KITAH, Hannah, Me, and Nik.

One big happy Family!

Every time my mom would go out to get the mail, she would jingle her keys and Kitah would come dashing out of where ever she was to go with her. Kitah had this big grin on her face and would hop down the driveway in excitement. She would walk with my mom to the mailbox and then back home. She knew the routine. Kitah loved getting the mail everyday.

Sometimes if we weren't careful in where we would get her excited (showing her the leash to let her know it is walking time or to tell her it's time to go for a ride), she would piddle right where she was. Happy Piddles? Guess so.

I loved going for walks with her. She was such a happy dog. The moment I would pull out the leash she would do theses little loop-de-loops and flips all over the place. She would get too excited to just sit there and let you hook up the leash. And again, like my previous memory stated, if I wasn't careful where I was when I put the leash on, she would leave Happy Piddles. Going for walks just isn't the same anymore. I miss my walking buddy.

One time she was so excited to go for a walk she did about 20 little loop-de-loops around the kitchen floor. Once I was finally able to get her collar on, she hopped down the driveway and across the street like a little bunny rabbit. She would hop until the leash wouldn't extend any farther. She was so happy!

This one might make me look bad but I have to share it. One day when we were walking she had to go poo. She found these dark rocks and started to get in position. In my head I said "yes, Kitah, right there! Go there." See, I can't bend over too easily and the last thing I wanted to do was bend over and pick up poo...even if it was just a few small droplets. Well....just after she gets into position...she scoots forward, while in position, another 2 feet...onto the sidewalk right in front of the mailbox! agh! Kitah...you were suppose to stay in the rocks. haha. I had a good laugh, especially because she looked so silly scooting around. And just so you know...I did bend over to pick up the poo with my handy dandy baggie!

Just recently Nik and I were home alone and it had been a little while since we had seen Kitah. We looked and looked for her. We even called her name and it took a minute or two and then she finally came out of her hiding spot. I took her outside so she could go do her business and then when we came back inside I left her alone, but with my eye on her, so I could find out where she was hiding. She had found a spot under my parents bed. When I was looking for her I asked Nik for his help because my big belly won't let me bend over too far. He got down on the floor and captured a picture of her little secret hideout. After taking the picture she started to get up and so Nik said "No, Kitah. Stay." But I guess the No was bad enough and she thought she was in trouble. So she got up and came into the living room with us. Silly dog.

Her hiding spot.

This all made sense now as I remember times when she would walk back to my parent's bedroom door and sit there. It was just her and I at home but she would sit at the closed door and sometimes whimper. I didn't realize she wanted in for her secret spot so I would just call her back to the couch and she would hang out with me a little longer.

Nik and Kitah had a love/hate relationship. It was funny because she would sit next to him on the couch and love on him and he would scratch her head but then sometimes she would hate him. Every day when Nik would come home from work, Kitah would hear the car pull up and start barking. We would then open the front door and tell her to "get him!" She would jump out of the house onto the porch, take 2 leaping steps towards him, realize it was The Nik, and run back inside as fast and as quiet as she could. Why she didn't like him, we don't know. It was definitely a love/hate relationship.

Kitah was very good at letting us know whenever someone was at our door. Or rather I should say someone or something. Even if the cat was there or a leaf blowing by that made lots of noise, she would let us know.

Sometimes she would sit at our back sliding door and see a cat go through our backyard. She would get so furious and bark her little head off so much that she would get some air. It was quite comical.

At dinner time she would be allowed to stay out of her kennel until she did the no-no. She would watch us eat and pray for droppings. Sometimes she could smell what we were eating and all the deliciousness and she would not be able to contain herself. She would proceed to pounce up on our leg, which was a big no-no. But it sure was cute. She just wanted a bit of the yummies.

Kitah was the head chef of our kitchen. There was her little spot she sat in at the corner of the fridge and wall as we cooked. She would be able to see all areas of the kitchen in that spot and would monitor our cooking. She would stare up at us and at any little movement or sound she would look straight down on the floor to make sure nothing dropped. I guess it would be better to call her our Little Janitor. She would clean up anything we spilled.

One of my favorite little quirks she had was her sitting habits on the couch. If someone was on the couch she would join them...BUT...she would ONLY sit on the right side of you and would scoot her little bum into the area between your right leg and the couch cushion. Then she would sit there with a big smile on her face. If we would pet her and stop, she would turn around and smile at you and raise her head so you knew what she was getting at. She would love all the attention she could get.
Like just the other day she was at our Grandparent's house with us and I was sitting on one part of the couch, my right side blocked, and my Grandpa was sitting on the opposite side of the couch with his right side available. She jumped up on the couch and I started scratching her head. She loved it but kept inching towards Grandpa. Grandpa wasn't doing anything special, he was just watching tv. I was the one giving her attention but as soon as she got too far out of my reach and I couldn't scratch her anymore she headed straight for the space between Grandpa's right leg and the couch cushion. She sat there as content as she could be, just smiling away at me. Such the character.

Kitah loved going for rides in the car. One day just a week or so ago I wanted to go grab some lunch. It was just me and Kitah at home so I decided to take her with me. I made one big mistake though. I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride. She got so excited and ran outside. There on the front porch she did some little stretches as she had just woken up from her nap. I told her to go potty before getting in the car, she knows what that means, but she just kept stretching. When she stopped stretching again I would tell her to go potty, but she would begin to stretch some more and give me that little look of "don't I look so pretty...now let's go!" After a few minutes of trying I just gave up and let her get in the car, but I told her that if she pee'd in the car, she was in big trouble! hahaha. What was I thinking? Like she could understand that!? The whole ride she had her nose out the window and was soaking up the sun and all the smells she came across. I was afraid she would get too excited and piddle right there on the seat. Luckily, she didn't! We got home and she went to the bathroom right away.

 This was her just after being picked up from the Groomer.

She is out of focus because she wanted to get that pink bow out of her hair

And wouldn't sit still for two seconds.

She had the cutest little strut when she walked. Her tail would be up on her back and she would shake them hips of hers! Because of her gorgeous coat it was almost like she was walking in a pretty dress with a huge petticoat underneath. And she would make the cutest little pitter patter across the wood floor like she had heels on or something. Such a female!

When she was in heat and we would take her on walks, my mom would say she was "leaving her number on the bathroom stalls." I cannot tell you how many times we had to stop so she could sniff around and leave a note. It was so funny!

We love you, Kitah. Although it was difficult to bear I am glad I was able to hold you and try to comfort you as you left for Heaven. You are in a safe spot now. We will see you soon! You will always be a smile in our hearts.
Oh and although this might seem odd...us Allred's very into numbers. Kitah passed away at 12:12pm on 4/4/11.
Way to go out with a sense of humor! (keeps me smiling and all the tears back when I think of it that way.)

May you rest in peace, Kitah.

Your love and smiles and even Happy Piddles

Will be missed in this family.

Have fun up there in Heaven!

First of Many

So last night was the first night I have experienced what so many other mothers talk of and dread...

NO SLEEP!
Our Little Jewel decided she wanted to play around...all night long.
Before this, she would be quiet and if she played around, I had no idea.
Occassionally she would wake up with me around 3:30am on my potty break, but that was it.
She was as light as a feather when she would move.
Well, not anymore. She is one strong little lady.
I could not for the life of me get more than 30 minutes of sleep at a time.
Didn't help that her and her daddy decided to tag-team and keep me up all night.
I guess it was warmer than usual in our room last night, so Nik would not lie still.
But then again...neither could I...BECAUSE the two of them kept moving.

I laugh at it now...but maybe it is just because I am super-dee-duper exhausted!
lol.
And I am very very happy that everything seems to be healthy and right on schedule...
Just part of learning how to deal with this completely different part of life.

But on a different note...my mom and I play our own Scrabble Game on FBook.
Now, this is very unusual because the family isn't the biggest fan of playing that game with her...
...because she is SO DARN GOOD!
She jokes about reading the dictionary when she was younger, but I swear she did.
In fact, if I close my eyes REAL hard I can see her from my spot on the clouds in Heaven doing so.
True story.
;-)
Well, we started a new game, because I actually won last game.
THAT, my friends, IS RARE!
So it's my first turn on this new game....and in 2 minutes I find a word using ALL my 7 letters...
...giving me the 50pt bonus! I was super stoked! I couldn't stop laughing...not that I was rubbing it in, because I know it will eventually be her winning....but I was just sooooo happy I got a good score and was in the lead.
And the funniest part was how the word directly relates to my pregnancy - CRAVINGS. lol
Well, my next hand of tiles were A A A I I U T.
CRAP!
What am I suppose to do with that?!?!
See, this game is not about strategy at all...it's about luck and knowing weird words.
Well, I guess a little about strategy because you don't want to play somewhere next to a DW or TW to allow the next player that spot. But other than that, just takes brains.

Now onto the BEST part of the night....Cherry Swirl Coffee Cake

FORGET about DINNER!!!
Bring on this bad boy!
Just found this on the Betty Crocker site....and made it in a jiffy.
You should try it out.
Looks almost like the Entenmann's Coffee Cake.
If it is a similar match...I'll be in heaven.

Well, that is all for tonight, folks!
Have a good weekend.
Loves!

Precious Moments

Your Baby: Month 6

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes (cute!!).

-www.TheBump.com

 

So we tried this last night.

I was getting ready for bed and remember reading this earlier in the day.

So I asked Nik if he wanted to hear something cool.

He was up for it.

I told him to put an ear on the baby and to listen closely.

He had to move around a couple times and finally found it.

He lifted his head with the sweetest smile of one happy daddy

and said he could hear our daughters beating heart.

He put his ear back to her and closed his other ear so he could hear better.

He was soooo cute!

I wish I could hear it without a monitor...

...but that's not possible...

...I have a huge baby in the way.

lol.

I asked him how fast it was beating just to make sure it wasn't mine he heard.

He mimicked it perfectly.

About 155 beats per minute.

(At least that is what the doctor said on Monday).

Awww....such a sweet moment.

I was afraid it would be too soon to hear it but I guess not.

Such a precious moment that I had to document it.

It is the little things in life that make us smile.

I don't ever want to forget this.

Dear Baby Berry,

I haven't written you in a long time.

Sorry.

I just want you to know that I can't wait to see you!

13 short weeks left.

Can you believe that?!?!

You will be here before we know it.

I also want you to know that you are so precious and special

to your mommy and daddy already.

We love you so much!

This has been such a fun journey

getting ready for your big debut.

You have changed your mommy and daddy's lives so much

and it is all for the better.

You have so many friends and family members

that love you so much already,

without even meeting you face to face.

Your Auntie Amy and Uncle Tim

got married 12 days ago.

You were so cute during the ceremony,

kicking around and making your presence known.

Auntie Amy loves you so much and gives you a special hug

every time she is around.

You even made it in the wedding pictures.

Just you, me, and her.

She was so pretty that day,

I'm sure you will love that picture!

Your Grandma Allred asks about you every morning.

Sometimes you would think I don't matter anymore...

...at least not as much as you,

but I know that isn't true.

She loves us both.

When you get here...you should ask her about

The Owl Quilt.

You could get a good laugh outta her with that one.

She was just so excited to be a Grandma,

she got started early!

She loves you so much!

Nanu is always excited to have you around.

Don't be surprised when soccer season comes around

and you are out on the field.

Don't worry,

we will all be there cheering you on.

You might have actually heard her a time or two

talking to you.

She loves you so much.

I know she will make a wonderful Great Nanu!

Can't forget about your Grandpa Berry.

Every time you are around he is making sure you are good and healthy.

One time he gave me a whole plate of strawberries...

...just because "his granddaughter needs her vitamins."

It was very sweet.

Hope you liked those!

I sure did.

Grandpa even got a nasty scrape all along his forearm while working.

I made sure to bandage him up and take care of it

before it got any worse,

because we all know he needs that arm to hold you.

Especially when it comes time for you to go out hunting with the Berry Boys.

Don't worry though...you will look cute in all that hunting gear,

bows and all!

;)

Trust me...everyone else is so excited to meet you too.

Auntie Carrot has even set up a website and clothing business

so she can give you cute little clothes.

She sure misses you while she is in Utah but she will be here in July to visit.

Be careful though, she might squeeze you to pieces!

Auntie Bagel and Boog love you too.

They count down to your arrival with me.

They are having so much fun.

Your Uncle Sam is excited to teach you how to play ball

and is very sweet to let me have the soft seat in the house

so you and I can be comfortable.

Uncle Jake always checks on you,

just like a good big uncle would do.

And we can't forget about your Grandma Berry.

She loves hearing all the cute stories of what you have been up to lately.

Your Grandpa Allred is sweet and excited for another girl...

...I mean, heck, that is all he knows.

All your other Great-Grandparents and other friends

are so happy to have you joining the family.

You are going to have loving people around you all the time.

I guess for not writing in a long time

I can become a chatterbox.

I'll let you get some sleep now.

I love you,

my Little Princess.

You make me smile.

Love,

Your Mommy and Daddy

It's A Girl!

Yesterday was QUITE THE DAY! Let me tell you a little story, k?

December 20th was a day of GREAT IMPATIENCE. Nik and I heard about this little urine kit that would be able to determine the gender of the baby after 10 weeks. Well, I was past that at 13 weeks and figured it would be a little more accurate being farther along and caved into the idea.
I mean, wouldn't it be fun to find out a little earlier what the baby is going to be?
So I took the test and it was suppose to read the level of testosterone or estrogen in my urine as I am supposedly passing the baby's urine as well. The test came back CLEARLY a BOY.

Yep, a boy! 

I had a feeling it would be a boy and when looking back through Nik's line, there is a majority in boys. So, I was going to have a boy. FUN! Totally new to me but a piece of cake for Nik. I only know girls....that's all I have, 3 little sisters and 0 little brothers. And majority of my cousins (that I know) on both sides are girls. But a boy would be fun.
Nik and I both talked about how this test could be wrong and that we weren't going to plan plan plan for a boy until the doctor confirmed it. It was fun talking about boy names and passing on the Berry name. Fun seeing all my friends that have boys and to wonder how mine was going to be. 

Well, my mom, so anxiously excited to be a grandma, started in on a quilt a little early. Just 3 weeks too soon. See, we had told a few people about the urine test we took but we also made it clear that the test wasn't 100% positive...that this is just a good starting point but that was it.
Back to grandma...she started on the cutest little green and brown owl quilt for Baby Berry. It was and still is adorable! I feel in love with the collection from Scrapbooks Etc and she ran with it. Oh, it was so fun planning the placements of the patterns and the little elephant she sewed on the front. So adorable.

Yesterday comes along and she has me come with her to pick out the backing for the quilt. She had just completed the whole top the night before. So down to Scrapbooks Etc we went and picked out the last of the fabric. I left her there for her quilting class and I went to my doctor's appointment.
My dad was the only one of both families that didn't have work and I wanted someone with me when we found out the gender. Nik couldn't get work off, my mom had her class, my father-in-law was in California, and my mother-in-law had work as well. So my dad came with me to the appointment and I was excited and nervous, still thinking it was a boy, but knowing this appointment could change everything.
I even called my cousin, Eden, the hour before the appointment and told her how nervous I was, that she could end up being a girl...which would be exciting, SO EXCITING, but a complete 180 from what I've been thinking.
Anywho, we get in the room with Dr. Beck and he checks around.
THERE IS A BABY IN THERE! It was amazing! I mean, of course there is but the last time I had an ultrasound, the baby was still a peanut.

I mean, of course that's a baby, but that was all I had seen since November...and my belly has ever so slowly grown, making it feel like "am I really pregnant?"

Ok ok, back to this wonderful ultrasound. Dr Beck checked and the baby has all 4 limbs moving like they should, the brain looks properly developed, and there is not cleft palate...the baby looks great!
Then he looks for the gender. He keeps moving the little instrument all over my belly just looking and looking and looking some more....then he says
"Well, looks like we have a girl."
Now I swore to myself that I wouldn't say what I was about to say...but it just fell out. In shock I asked "ARE you SURE?"
Gosh, I felt so dumb! OF COURSE he is sure...he's the doctor, been doing this for over 22 years! Duh, Dawna.
I started to cry...little tears of joy. I looked over at my dad and he had little tears of happiness in his eyes too. It was such a special moment.
NIK AND I ARE HAVING A GIRL!!!! A GIRL!
I kinda felt silly for doing that little urine test and getting my hopes up so high on a boy but a girl is just as great and something I am a little more comfortable with anyways. I don't want her to ever feel that she was not wanted because we thought a boy for so long, because that just is not true. We are so excited to have her in our family an can't wait to meet her.
Yes, it is fun saying HER and SHE. Oh, so surreal. This is REALLY happening!

 I won't add the picture that proves she's a girl...because heck,

I can't even tell that well.

So we'll just take Dr Becks word on it.

She was moving around so much during the ultrasound. Her hands were up to her head and then down to her feet and then back up again...like she was having her own little dance party in there. Then the cutest thing happened...she gave this GIANT YAWN. It was so precious. I couldn't believe it. All of a sudden we could see her jaw bones open so wide in a nice long yawn. She's real. She is really there, growing and moving around. Oh, how wonderful that appointment was. I wish I could have gotten that on dvd but maybe Dr Beck doesn't do that or maybe he does it later on. I am not too sure but how real that moment was to me.

I am in love. Ya know the feeling? I haven't even met her in person yet and I love her so much. I didn't understand and couldn't comprehend how possible that was. How was I going to find room in my heart that Nik as already filled up? How was I ever going to make room or feel that real love for anyone else? Well, it's happening. It's real. Nik and I have this little family. We are her parents. She is here because of our love, our love that will last through the eternities. She is ours and we are so excited to meet her.

Well, I finished up my appointment and went to tell the families. Hannah came with but I made her stay in the lobby because this was a special moment of my first baby and just wanted it to be me and my dad. But as soon as I got out to the lobby you could tell she was just DYING to find out what the baby is...and so I told her and showed her the pictures. Her eyes got so big and she jumped up and down. Hannah does this really cute thing when she gets really excited, she folds her arms so tight almost as if she is going to burst from excitement. She did just that and I could tell she was happy to have a little niece to play with even though I know she would have been just as happy with a nephew.

I called my mom as she was still in her quilting class and told her that that quilt was going to have to sit in Grandma's Quilt Stash a little longer. lol. She screamed and laughed all at the same time "IT'S A GIRL?!?!" It was such a funny moment and one that will go down in history. So, onto picking another collection for another quilt! Then I texted my sister in Utah and I could tell she was screaming cuz her texts came back in all caps. haha. I let my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Colby (my dad's siblings, Allreds) know and Lisa replied "Girls are all we know to make ;-)" and Colby said he called it, which he did.
See, on the Allred side my grandpa is the only boy with 4 sisters. Then there is my dad who has 1 sister and 1 brother and then for grandchildren there are 10 girls and 2 boys. Let's add in the babies of that generation and so far there have been 2 girls and then my girl to add to that. So, girls are the majority of what us Allred's know how to make.

We waited to tell Nik's family until they all got back in town or off work and then we met up last night. I showed the pictures to my mother- and sister-in-law, Randee and Amy, and they tried to guess what it was. They guessed a boy cuz heck, how are we suppose to read these grainy little pictures? We aren't doctors. haha. So then I told them it was a girl and everyone screamed. It was so fun! Nik keeps telling me she can be a girl but only as long as she knows how to hunt and camp and play sports. I just laugh and tell him that is fine because that is just what the Berry's do! It is going to be so fun!

 Here I am the day we found out.

January 17, 2011

17weeks 3days

So, that is our wonderful story of finding out the gender of our little baby.
IT'S A GIRL! YAY!
In the poll I posted, there were 12 Girl votes to 9 Boy votes.
Next time we'll just go off the votes rather than a urine test.
lol. 

Dear Baby Berry,

We are so excited to have you in our future,

and right now as you play around in mamma's belly.

Being a girl is so much fun!

Your daddy is so excited and has already been plotting

his threats to any boys who do you wrong.

You are going to be so pretty and have lots of pretty girl things

but daddy wants to make sure you know how to hunt and camp

and do all the Berry stuff...cuz after all, you ARE a Berry now.

Don't worry...you can still look cute while you do that, it's okay.

And mamma is excited to pass on her middle name to you.

This has been a tradition for 3, going on 4, generations.

You are so loved and we are excited to meet you

and your sweet personality.

I sit here waiting for you to make some sort of movement

that I can make out is you, but I will wait as long as it takes.

I've heard you can be pretty forceful in there as you run out of room,

so take your time making your stay known.

Just about 5 more sweet months until you are in our arms...

and can we please talk about the 22nd of June?

It would be pretty rad if you could be born on that day.

Just letting you know.

I'll explain when you get here.

Can't wait til you come out!

Love,

Your Mamma