Two Weeks!

Two Weeks Old
-7 lbs 1 oz
-21 1/2 in. long
-dark curly hair
-typical newborn~ sleeps and eats

I heard the first two weeks were difficult, and they were... but I really loved them. His days and nights were all mixed up, but I really learned to treasure those early morning hours together. Having a baby is more than I every imagined it to be. I'm literally loving every minute.

Christmas 2011

I had no interest in gifts this year, although I got many wonderful gifts. I sure had fun giving them, but my greatest gift came from my Heavenly Father this year. This song sung by Barbara Streisand explains my feelings best...

The best gift
That I ever got
Didn't really weigh a lot
It didn't have a ribbon 'round
And it sometimes made the terrible sound
The best of all it seems to me
It wasn't neath the Christmas tree
And yet, I guess I'd have to say
That it made all the other presents twice as gay
The best gift that I've ever known
I'd always wanted most to own
Yet in my dreams of sugar and spice
I never thought it could be so nice
The best gift that I ever get
Was sometimes dry and sometimes wet
Was usually pink but oftentimes red
As it lay so innocently in its bed
The best gift of the year to me
The one I hold most dear to me
A gift that simply drove me wild
Was a tiny new born child...

Baby Love

Lots of our friends and family came to the hospital to show our baby boy some love.

My mom was my secondary birthing coach! I really appreciated her support. She was Jayson's first grandma to give him some love.


Tessa had gone to the hospital with me during my two false alarms, and stayed the night on the floor the night I was in labor. She was in the room with me until it was time to push. She was such a great support! Tessa was Jayson's first aunt to hold him. He sure loves her.


Mike's mother Connie came right in after he was delivered. Jayson got to meet his other grandma.

Mike's sister Vickie was waiting outside when he was born, so she was the first aunt on Mike's side to hold him.

Martha came all the way from Park City to see this little guy! Martha was my principal the past three years, and a very good friend. Love her!


Lindsey is one of my closest friends and a past teacher at my school. Jayson was so happy to meet his aunt Lindsey! She's been nearly as excited as his mommy for his arrival!


Jessica is also a teacher and friend from my past school.


Linda also came to meet baby Jayson from my school. She was my dual immersion teaching partner and good friend. She was like a second mom to me, and supported me through my pregnancy.

Noemi and Alex came to meet Jayson! Noemi is a teacher at my past school and I work closely with her as a new teacher in the dual immersion program. She and her husband have become good friends with Mike and I.



Jeana and Matt came to meet Jayson! They are some of our closest friends who have really supported us on this journey to parenthood. We're so lucky to have them as friends!





Thanks to all of my friends and family for your support through pregnancy and childbirth. It has been an amazing journey!

The Greatest of All Great Days

I already wrote my labor and delivery story in my previous post, but I didn't really post any pictures. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this statement has never been more true to me. I want to bottle up the feelings and emotions of that day and be able to remember them forever. I've tried writing them down, but when I look at these pictures, those emotions come right back. These pictures tell the story of the greatest day of my life...

Yay! Finally admitted! It's really happening this time!


Got the pit drip. Got my epidural. Got my momma. Got my cup full of flavored ice. I'm good to go!

Mike looking into my eyes and telling me how much he loves me! (and thinking, "Geez... I'm glad they finally got my wife her epidural so she doesn't hate me anymore!)

My sweet sister is holding my hand while they do something awful to me, but I can't remember what awful thing it was... iv? dilation check? epidural? blood draw? catheter? who knows???

It's almost push time!!!

He's here!! Mike is cutting the umbilical cord.

Holding my baby for the first time. I can't stop crying.


Checking baby West out.


After his checkup, baby Jayson is ready to be held by his mommy and daddy.


Momma and baby cuddling after he's cleaned up and checked out. No, I don't look perfect after delivery like a lot of my friends! But it was still a beautiful moment!

The doctor who helped make this happen! I love Dr. Thackeray!!


Mike holding the baby for the first time. Jayson has the best daddy!


Jayson is almost ready to go to his new room with his mommy and daddy.


Jayson's first bath given by his daddy. He immediately loved getting his hair washed.

Our sweet boy, all clean and snuggly in his new room.



Love my sweet little family!

Love of my Life

I am totally and completely in love...


with this sweet boy.

Jayson Michael West joined our family on December 15th, 2011 at 12:32PM. He weighed 7 lbs 2 oz and was 21 inches long. He was born with lots of long, dark hair and refused to cry when we entered this world. As soon as he came out, he opened his big, bright eyes and began looking around. He's really alert for a newborn!

I don't want to bore everyone with his birth story, but here's a quick summary: Wednesday night the 14th I started getting some hard contractions every 3 minutes at 5:30PM. Mike got home around 7:00 from work to find me doubled over, trying to breathe, and dinner was on the stove burning. We headed to the hospital around 8:30. I was only dilated to a 3, so they watched me for a couple of hours. I only dilated to a 3 1/2, so they tried to send me home. Luckily, my mom argued with the nurse and demanded to see the on call doctor. He came in, said he'd give me some "go-juice" and we'd have a "baby and bacon for breakfast". I was so relieved. Five minutes after they started me on pitocin, my water broke (1:30 AM). The contractions came hard and fast. I tried to be tough and go as long as I could without an epidural. I was dilated to about a 6 and got the epidural, the most magical medicine in the world. (3:00 AM). I just hung out after that waiting for the contractions to do their work. By 9:30, I was dilated to a 9 and was able to take a short nap. I began pushing at 11:30ish which was the coolest part. Despite my tendency to pass out when seeing blood and bodily fluids, I agreed to using a mirror. It was so amazing and motivational to see my baby boy enter into this world! I loved seeing his head of dark curly hair!! I had to have an episiotomy and tore a little bit, but really, it wasn't bad. Despite the fact my labor was 17 hours plus three weeks of pre-labor, it wasn't bad. I actually enjoyed the whole labor and delivery experience (thanks to my friend the epidural). It was such a spiritual and miraculous experience. I hope I remember it forever!!

Jayson was born perfectly healthy! We're so blessed! He's been a really good baby! He hasn't been a big crier. He didn't cry coming out, and he doesn't cry much now. However, he thinks night time is his play time, so I'm trying to switch his schedule around. Jayson has had many visitors who love him and his parents! We had an amazing Christmas with our little miracle. I am absolutely loving every minute of this mommy business. I don't think there is anything better than this!! I will post more pictures soon!