THREE of us together

It is finally time to change the blog title! Emerie K Massey arrived on July 21st at 1:41 in the afternoon. She was 6 lbs exactly and 20 inches long. I think they measured wrong because she didn't have that much of a cone head and a week later she was 18.5 inches long, but still that's pretty tall and skinny. She is her daddy's daughter! She already has both of us, and many others, wrapped around her little finger. Here are some of her newborn pics:





I can't express how much I love her. It's true when they say that a baby changes your life forever. I never understood that concept until now. I can't remember what life was like before her. Looking back I can't believe we ever lived without her. Becoming a mom has been a big adjustment for me. It was harder than I expected just because I am a perfectionist and I definitly didn't know what I was doing right away. I wanted to be perfect for her and sometimes I just couldn't figure out what she needed. We are getting to know each other much better now and have got a routine going. I also had a hard time not having everything in order all of the time. I can't get to the dishes or the laundry everyday and if you know me you know that I am not handling that well. One night I was crying to Newt because the laundry had been on the floor for two days and it was driving me nuts! LOL It's funny now, but I was completly serious then! I had a hard time at first with breast feeding but we have got that ironed out too. I have to admit that I don't love it. I don't mind the actual nursing and I love feeling that connection with her, but I was trying to nurse her and pump so that she could always have breast milk even when I went back to work. I felt like I was always attached to something and I didn't like that feeling that my body wasn't mine. So she gets supplemented with formula a few times a day. I had a thought one day that made me feel less guilty: On the first day of kindergarten I can never tell the kids who were exclusively breastfed. I can only tell the ones whose parents care about them and are actively involved in their lives.
The last few weeks my emotions have finally evened out and I am feeling much more normal. Newt is especially glad about that! I have to give a shout out to my husband here because he has been completly understanding and amazing. He stood right next to me and rubbed my back while I was throwing up in the delivery room and that is a testiment to what he has been like through this whole process. I love him so much! I still can't believe Emerie is ours. Sometimes I just stare at her and I think how I can't believe that I did it. She is so beautiful and I am amazed by her. My whole world revolves around that sweet baby girl. I love my little family!

The Nursery

The nursery is finished! I have worked so hard on it and I love it! The only bad thing is that now that everything is ready (nursery is done, clothes are washed, hospital bag is packed...), it seems like forever until she gets here. I am soooo done being pregnant. I don't want to be "puffy" and hot and uncomfortable anymore. It shouldn't feel like a marathon to just roll over in bed-seriously. Everyone keeps saying how much easier it is to take care of her now, but I am already up all night anyways so I'm just ready to have her. And I'm so excited to meet her! Let's get this show on the road! But I know she will come on her own time schedule. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow, so we'll see what he says :)

Maternity Pics

My awesome friend Holly took these pictures for me. It was so fun to take them with her because we have been friends for so long and because she is expecting too! There were so many cute ones! Here are just a few of my favorites.







I'm glad that I had some maternity pictures taken. I'm not exactly happy with my body right now, but I know I will want to look back and remember being pregnant with my sweet baby girl. I can't wait to meet her!

Nate's Trip and the Baby Shower

Nate had the oppportunity to go to the Dominican Republic with the National Guard for two weeks to build some health clinics. He said it was a very humbling experience that made him realize how much we have. Their group was the last to go, so they finished up the clinics and then packed up the base and got everything ready to ship back to Utah.


Some Haitians lived across the street from their worksite. The Haitians come to the Dominican to work in the banana fields. Thirty people lived in this little house.



He is still talking about his trip! I'm glad he had a good experience, but I am even more glad to have him home! We have been apart too much lately!

We had the baby shower while Nate was still gone. Emerie is spoiled rotten already! She might not even be able to wear all the clothes she got before she grows out of them. I had so much fun at the shower! I have so many amazing women in my life! Thanks Mom and all my family who helped!

Ultrasound Pictures

Here is our sweet baby girl! The ultrasound was so amazing! She was sucking her thumb and kicking herself in the chin. I knew there was a baby in there before, but the ultrasound really made it real and made me feel that the baby was "my baby."



She already knows how to pose for a picture :)



We, of course, think she is the most adorable thing ever and can't wait for her to get here! Especially me since she is continually taking up more space. She has discovered my ribs and loves to stretch out her legs as far up into them as they can go. I am feeling VERY uncomfortable but I am enjoying feeling her move all the time. It is the weirdest feeling to see my belly stretch out for a foot! I love her so much already that I can't be mad at her for it.

In other news, it has been a busy summer for us. We spent a couple of weeks getting moved and settled and doing yard work and then Nate left for the Dominican Republic with the National Guard. Today is his first Father's Day and I realized that he will probably be gone for every Father's Day just like he is always gone for my birthday. Thank goodness we were married in July so he is usually home for our anniversary! I can't wait for him to be a daddy! He is already so excited and I know she will have him wrapped around her little finger!

Every day I am grateful for all our family! We have had so much help getting settled and moved. My mom has worked so hard to make sure I feel at home. Love her so much! It has been so fun for me to be around family again. I used to feel sad every summer when I missed out on everything! I am positive that we made the right decision to move back. Things are not exactly as we planned, but everything continues to work out and I can see God's hand in our lives everyday. I am so blessed!

Going Private

I have decided to make our blog private since we will have a baby here soon. Give me your e-mail in a comment or e-mail me at marandym@gmail.com and I will send you an invite :) Soon to come: pictures of our last 3D ultrasound and Nate's trip to the Dominican Republic with the National Guard.

Last Weekend

This weekend was our last weekend in the land of paradise. It is very bittersweet because I love it here. I love the weather, I love my job, I love my school, and I'm so sad to leave friends. But I'm very excited to be closer to family and VERY excited to be with Nate again. I just want to get settled again and get life back to normal. Well, a new kind of normal. I think I will be so content when all our stuff is unpacked and I can just relax and do something as simple as watching TV with my hubby. We are moving into my mom's house in Vernal. She lives in Manilla and will be with us in Vernal for a couple days a week. At first I was sad to not be getting our own place, but I am feeling more and more that this is the right decision and more and more content with it. My mom will be able to help with the baby a few days a week when I go back to work and it will be nice to not be totally alone when Nate is deployed. I'm so grateful to my mom and Lyn!! We are moving all our stuff in and will be able to make it our own. I'm excited to paint and get the nursery set up. I have been having the nesting urge for months! Wednesday is my last day of work and then I will be making the move-so cheers to our new adventure!

On our last weekend here Nate did the St. George Triathlon. Way to go Babe! Robin, Grandma, and Izzy came down to cheer him on and stayed with Uncle Wayne and Aunt Pam.
Thanks to all our family who are always cheering us on in all we do! We love you!