Latest of baby Charmander

 Charlotte posed for her first official photo shoot, courtesy of Samantha Kelly Photography.  Sam is extremely talented!  We are nuts about this 3 month old.  She squawks like a pterodactyl these days and it seems to sound less and less cute every time but I can't help being totally crazy about Charlotte.    

 Enjoy.

 This is my favorite.  She perches a lot.  Especially when she wakes up.  There is something so hilarious about her perching habits. 

 She has the longest baby torso known to mankind.  Look at it!  This is a Hunter trait, all the way. 

 Her daddy is all torso.

 Sneaky little smile...

 Ryan calls this her Abercrombie shot.

 Super awesome vintage blanket provided by Heather Edwards. 

Very Sentimental

"Now I don't like to be very sentimental if I don't have to be - oh but I think that I just may have glued my hand to yours if you had asked me."

- Andrew Belle "Don't Blame Yourself"

This quote is very applicable.  In fact, I think of it so so often when I think of Ryan.  

He will probably be embarrassed by this post and I'm not one to publicly declare often how attracted I am to him, but right now, I just don't care.

When we were walking along the super crowded beach in Carpinteria, CA during our marathon honeymoon, Ryan kissed me (not lightly) in front of what seemed like a bajillion beach goers.  I was so shy about it.  I think I may have appeared rejecting even.  Which is awful, because truly, secretly, I thought it was so romantic and it made my whimsical heart skip a beat.

When Charlotte was born - one of the things I will remember the most was the time I had with Ryan to soak it all in and realize we were more than just me and him.  He was so awesome.  Because I was suffering so much blood loss and on weird medications and utterly exhausted, the night that Charlotte was born, I broke down in my hospital recovery bed.  All visitors had left.  All staff was gone.  Charlotte was in the nursery until her next sign of hunger.  I felt so strange, such a mix of emotions, and so overly tired and wound up that I couldn't sleep.  Ryan nudged his way into the bed next to me and held me.  He told me how wonderful I was.  He spoke of how kind I was to all of the hospital staff.  He assured me of his unwavering love.  He was so proud of me.  I needed every word he offered in that moment.  So encouraging, so calming.  It is one of my favorite memories with him to date.  I really do not only love him, but like him so much.  I wish I could spend even more time with him and talk to him and dream with him and kiss him.  He has given me a wonderful year of marriage and it just keeps getting better.  I am so grateful.

"I think that I just may have glued my hand to yours if you had asked me."

Sleep has made all the difference...

Charlotte is sleeping.  

When we first arrived home from the hospital, I assumed I knew how to take care of a baby.  For the most part, I did... but I realized quickly that I didn't know what I was doing or what I should do for a large portion of the time Charlotte and I were together (which was constantly).  She cried often and even produced tears much faster than most babies... those tears were so so sad.  Surely, as her mother, I should have known how to handle every situation with my God-given intuition, right??  There were numerous times when Ryan would come home to see Charlotte and I crying together in the rocking chair because I felt so sad that I didn't know how to make her feel happy.  He handled those moments so well.  I really couldn't ask for a better husband.  The best thing I ever did was decide to get outside at least once every day.  The sunshine and fresh air can really help put things into perspective while experiencing the life changing event of becoming a parent.  Nearly 8 weeks have gone by and I've learned so much about this little girl.  It seems as though there is a large group of mothers (or not) who believe they know everything about motherhood and will tell you the "right" way to do things. 
For instance:

your body WILL produce enough milk as your baby's needs grow.  I didn't find that experience to be true for me.  Charlotte was insatiable and nursing constantly.  Therefore, I have been able to supplement her with breast milk from a lovely neighbor of mine.  She is happier and finally looks as if she is putting on weight.  

Your baby MUST sleep on her back.  There is an entire campaign with outspoken advocates who are very much against any sleep position except for on their backs.  Do YOU sleep on your back? I sure don't... and I couldn't wait to sleep on my stomach again once Charlotte popped out of me.  She is a light sleeper - movement seems to rouse Charlotte very quickly and I learned that she didn't enjoy being on her back or her side.  Once I put her on her tummy to sleep - she slept like an actual baby!  Yes - I know it may increase the chance of being at risk for SIDS... but nobody knows what causes it and I don't believe any mother has control of whether or not her baby dies in this manner (our mothers were told to make us all sleep on our stomachs as infants) - information is always changing.

  I guess my point is that you are the parent for a reason and you have to make difficult decisions about how to raise your own children, don't let people put so much fear into you for making these decisions.  

Now that my baby girl has been eating enough - I have moved her out of our room and into a crib.  She's growing so fast!  For the benefit of our entire household, I have made the decision to begin helping Charlotte learn sleep independence.  I think my whole world has changed and I found myself with so much extra time today.  My poor baby has needed far more sleep than I realized before - and she is quite capable of putting herself to sleep with the occasional (who am I kidding, I can't let her cry more than 2 minutes without swooping in) pat on the back, rub of the hair, and whooshing sound.  We are ALL better rested and more relaxed (especially my smiling baby) now that the longest it takes Charlotte to go to sleep is 15 - 20 minutes.  What a dream.  

Do what feels right to you - don't let anyone rush you or tell you that you're wrong. 

Co-sleep if you so desire

Formula feed if you want

Give birth with an epidural or go for the natural

Swaddle your baby

or Don't

But never underestimate the power of trying new things and wisdom from those who have gone before!  Thank heavens for my Mom, Mother in law, Sisters, and Friends.

Happy parenting, world!

Finally made the switch

Charlotte is taking a lovely nap, what an angel.  So I took the opportunity to do a blog update.... name change, inclusion of family, etc.

Ryan and I feel as if we have been given so much, bounteous are we!

I also feel as if we need to strive more and more to be more giving, so I found the name suitable. 

I've promised a few of you Charlotte's birth story, so here goes nothing!

Monday, March 25th, Ryan and I were scheduled to check into labor and delivery.  I was a week past my initial "due date" and put on a list to be induced.  We arrived around 7am and I was put on pitocin around 9.  It was extremely uneventful up until that point... I hadn't experienced any real contractions, the baby was sitting fairly high, and I felt better than I had in months.  After a couple of hours, I began to feel the contractions in bed gripping manner.  I took the greatly appreciated advice, and received an epidural around 11 and my midwife broke my water shortly after.  Let me tell you something about that epidural: it was awesome.  I managed to sleep and eat snow cones (flavored ice chips) for a good portion of the next few hours until my nurse came in and informed us that I was fully dilated and ready push, this was at about 3pm.  The nurse told me my hips were perfect for child bearing.  Swoon! every girls dream to hear that, right?? This lady's hips don't lie.  I gave my first push before the nurse said "k, stop - we need to get your midwife in here before I end up delivering this baby."  The head full of black hair was clearly visible.  Jenny (midwife) arrived along with a team of who knows what they were, and they prepped the landing strip for the baby to arrive.  Ryan looked at me with excited eyes and said "are you ready??" It was such a strange feeling, so much thought, worry, excitement lead up to that moment.  I said "I'm at the top of the roller coaster and there's only one way down." I was totally ready.  About 3 pushes later, the baby came "shooting out" down the slip n slide as Ryan described it.  I immediately felt my stomach drop when she came out, what an awesome feeling!  She graced the earth at 3:50 that afternoon.  She was instantly placed in my arms while they stitched me back up.  I had 3rd degree tearing (no bueno) and lost a lot of blood because of it.  They called in another surgeon to help with stitching (4 hands were required, apparently) and he kept commenting on how he was stitching creatively.  Jenny kissed me on the forehead, commented on how kind I was being, and felt so awful about my pending recovery.  I remember shaking uncontrollably and feeling a bit out of sorts, but completely dazed by this new baby in my arms.  She pooped on me twice, the little jokester! 

I can't tell you how amazing I think giving birth is.  I loved every second of it, truly!  I realize this may be a very rare experience and that I may tend to really keep on the sunny side of life, but I look forward to delivering another baby!

Recovery is not as bad as I anticipated, and Charlotte is a dream.  She cries a lot, and sleeps sometimes, and eats whenever she feels like it, but she is such ball of personality already, and I couldn't ask for a greater gift than becoming a mom. 

Charlotte Kristy Hunter

8lbs 6oz, 21 inches long

3:50 pm March 25th, 2013

Marriage and Pregnancy: the ultimate teachers

We're down to 5 weeks now... come on baby girl! 

We have empty bouncy chairs and clothes just dying to be filled by newborn sweetness.  

Ryan and I have been married for 8 months and I have also been pregnant for 8 months, both of which have been awesome, (probably the former a little more than the latter) and both of which have been great educators. 

Marriage - is the sweetest thing.  I really do believe that!  Yes there are the lovely reasons of coming home to one another, having a friend by your side, supporting you at all times, and never having to say goodnight at a doorstep again.  But those are just the beginning of a fulfilled life that can be had through marriage.  I have learned so much from Ryan in these past few months.  I have learned that I can be overwhelmingly helpful, I'm an obnoxious eater, and I've enjoyed independence and control far too much.  I have learned how a car engine runs (very intriguing), how the sun works (even more intriguing and absolutely breathtaking), and which ingredients go well together (his kitchen confidence is far superior).  I have had so many opportunities to change and become better with Ryan by my side.  Closer to God.  What a perfect plan to label marriages and families as extremely important.

on the same note...

I've been pregnant for as long as I have been married.  I won't go into details, but it has been physically taxing in almost every way.  I have even experienced some sort of repercussions from hopping on one foot (note to your pregnant self) Ha!   During this pregnant period of life, I have felt quite useless.  I've spent days physically unable to cook, clean, walk, sleep, breathe well.  I feel as if I can do very little to help anyone around me and lift others up because my body has been very uncooperative.  

 And a couple of nights ago, Ryan reminded me...

I have a person growing inside of me.  He reminded me that I find so much joy in uplifting others emotionally that when I am required to put all of my efforts to raising one person physically, my sense of worth can be skewed.  How beautiful is that?  To have a husband who can help me to see so clearly... that I made the choice to give of my entire physical self for this period of time to be a "co-creator with Heavenly Father".  To give this - Heavenly Father's spirit child - a place to dwell on earth.  Our bodies are the most important thing we gain on earth - THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.  I sometimes forget that things of most importance are paid with a great price.  

I am so humbled to know that I can provide a life for this child and now understand a bit more why my lot in life is to bear children.  Some women are physically unable to.  Some women don't have the opportunity to.  Some women don't want to.  Each scenario breaks my heart and my love extends great, deep distances to all of these women.  I also think that each of these scenarios can provide great learning experiences if you allow the Spirit to enter in and teach.  The lows in pregnancy have taught me patience, reliance on the Lord, humility, and extreme empathy for those with similar situations or ailments.  How perfect it is - that the lows of my pregnancy have taken me to higher planes than I could reach before.  

I have learned many things in 8 months, and I can't wait for my education to continue!

Please please PLEASE read these inspirational talks

Elder Bednar: Ye Are the Temple of God

Elder Bednar: Things as They Really Are

Dreaming of a girl...

So the doc thinks it's a girl... he said he is "90% sure", which means that everyone was right.  I think maybe one person I know thought our she would be a he.  I for one am tickled to be having a girl!  I love being a girl! I love inspiring girls.  I love doing hair and painting nails!  I love knowing that I'm a daughter of Heavenly parents.  Girls are just automatically born into beauty and grace.  They have a way of carrying so much light and goodness if/when they tap into their unique potential.

I imagine many tears of joy while raising a girl 

Memorizing the curve of her smile.  And frown.

Watching her see herself for who she really is.  A beautiful being with infinite worth and substantial abilities.

Catching glimpses of her kindness towards people in a world that thirsts for kindness.

Learning what her likes are and who she falls in love with.

Making sure that I don't get too close - stifling her innate desire to fly.

Providing opportunities to live and love and grow and feel even if that means heartache and disappointment and frequent failure.

I will, with great honor, love raising this baby, child, teenager, adult and in turn be ultimately better (and raised myself) because of her.

I want her to know:

*that she was desired so fully
*that the announcement of her existence was accepted gleefully
*that her dad is very impatient, waiting for her to be in his arms
*that despite all of our imperfections, she will be loved
*that she will have no nursery, sleeping in between the kitchen table and guitar
*that she is coming into a pre-med family with little money but a home with love so big we had to bring someone in to share the joy

She squirms around like a fish in my belly and I just can't wait to meet her.

Where do I begin again...

I'm not quite sure where to start.  I'll begin with a warning: MAJOR WEDDING PICTURE OVERLOAD.... I know, it's about time.

I think I am creating a new post but blogger has changed since I last attempted writing a post almost a year ago. . .

I'm married... hooray! and oh so terribly happy.

I'm pregnant... (what?) hooray! and oh so excited to meet this baby.

Ryan and I decided, with divine intervention, to jump right in and start our own family.

We enjoyed a 3 week honeymoon and on week three, I was unbelievably tired, All. The. Time.  Needless to say, my body was working overtime to provide life for a speck of a baby. 

SO

Here we are, living in the basement of the kind-hearted, 4 foot - nothing?, Eunice.  Learning how to have a beautiful marriage in between vomiting and genuine laughter.

I love being pregnant.  My body has been through the storms of it all and now has a lovely hard bump to show all of that hard work it went through.  I'm waiting impatiently to feel a flutter or a kick.  I often spend time in the morning in bed prodding my stomach and feeling the thrill of knowing there is an actual soul in there waiting to breathe.

I know, a honeymoon baby.  We're "crazy" as a lot of people like to tell us.  But we imagined what life would be like with a child right away and knew instantly how perfect it felt.  Ryan will be the best dad.  I've never doubted it and it is one of the reasons why my heart always thumped around him.  I am beaming with joy at the thought of being a mother, though dealing with the feelings of inadequacy that so easily seem to creep into my mind. 

Now, this baby can't come soon enough and on Halloween we will be graced with the news of its' gender!

Stay tuned!

Here are some wedding pictures.  From that time we got married in June. Who doesn't love Anna James Photography??

My Family (isn't he lucky?)

 Ryan's Family (Honestly... who wouldn't want to marry into this family?)

 The "League of Brothers" are always up for good times.

 One of my favorite photos of the day: Sister love

 Sweet teenage Jake giving Ryan heartfelt advice.

 Every single one of my best friends, so adorable.

 I give the win to Emily and Jane on this one.  They really framed our jumps well!

 For some reason, 6 women were terrified of touching within 6 inches of my grooms bum.  This left him terribly unsupported. tsk tsk...

They may be taller, but they never make me feel inferior.  What great new sisters in law. 

 Bride is the only one capable of looking like a doofus... thank you everyone.

 This girl stole my heart at "Doolee?", even though "papa" is clearly ahead in the race for favorite.

I believe Ryan to be the perfect mixture of both parents: physically and characteristically. 

 Stud-ly

 His most genuine smiles were found via photos of him speaking with loved ones.  I like it.

 This, my friends, is Eunice aka "Eunicyle", "The Last Eunicorn", "Eunibomber" "Landlady Extraordinaire".

 The Andersons

 I don't know how this happened, but I'm tickled that it did!

 Of Course, Cindi caught the bouquet. 

 And the party begins.

 sigh...

 Hair.

 My vision of perfection came to fruition.

I love the admirer in the back.  He's so happy for us.