The Gardners Go to Park City

 We had the best time this year at the Gardner family reunion. We rented a house up in Jeremy Ranch (close to Park City) for a week and it was a blast!

On Saturday, we all arrived and had pizza for dinner. We played some games, had a devotional and then Ryan and I went home that night to get ready for Wesley's blessing the next day.

Sunday was Wesley's blessing. We had a little brunch before church for all our family that was in town and then Wesley's blessing. (More on that here.) That night we ha dinner at the house in Park City and played games. Scott and Vivian gave a great FHE lesson on temples and then off to bed.

Grandma with Leah and Rylee

Emry, Cael, Jackson, and Gavin at the kid's table

Monday and Tuesday we spent at Rock Port Lake. We rented a speed boat and did some tubing and wake boarding. Emry ended up being pretty terrified of the boat (probably had to do with the fact that she didn't get any real nap from Sunday to Tuesday). She only rode it twice: the first time, she screamed the whole time and then the second time, she semi-enjoyed it. I had a fun time wake boarding. Even though I hadn't gone in like 4 years, I was able to get up on the first try and even go in and out of the wake pretty well.  We also enjoyed some pretty awesome tubing. Ryan did a roll on the tube, which was pretty sweet! I love just hanging out on the lake. 

Emry at the lake with her yummy drink

Wesley slept a lot at the lake, which was really nice because it ended up being pretty windy with sand everywhere. So mostly he hung out in his car seat. 

Cael, Gavin, Emry, Jackson, and Brooke on the water weenie. We took the Gavin and Jacks out on a little trip on the water weenie (really slow) and when we were like 100 feet off the shore, the boat was going too slow, and so we all fell in the water. It was pretty comical but also scared the crap out of the kids. 

More yummy drinks

Taking a little nap at the beach

On Wednesday, the boys went golfing in the morning so we took the kids to the park and hung out at the house. When the boys got back, all the girls went shopping at the outlets. It was a very relaxing day after the two days of lake, which was really nice.  

Here are the older cousins at the park

On Thursday, we got up and headed to hike Stewart Falls up Provo Canyon. I did this hike like 5 times in college and loved it. It always seemed to be a short, easy hike. Well taking a bunch of kids under the age of 4 made it seem pretty long. It was pretty fun and a great bonding activity. On the way home, we stopped at the famous shake place in Heber and then headed back to the house to relax and take a nap. 

Most of the gang before the hike. Everyone kept commenting on how many cardinal fans there were on the trail. There were a lot of us!!

Emry on Uncle Brandon's shoulders

Me and Wesley hiking along

Wesley hanging out at the waterfall

I was smart and brought the umbrella to keep the sun off Wesley (and me) while we were at the waterfall

 Every night someone was in charge of a devotional and then we had scripture and prayer as a family. This is Ryan and Emry reading scriptures on the phone.

Thursday night we pulled out a pinata a friend gave me for Emry's second birthday that I forgot to use. We thought it would be fun for the kids to do the pinata. They had a blast!

After Emry and Jackson had a turn, Cael was up and broke the pinata on his first swing!

Way to go Cael!!

On Friday we spent the day in Park City doing the alpine slide and coaster. It was pretty fun. The coaster is pretty fast. It's my favorite. Ryan took Emry on the alpine slide. She did fine riding up the chair lift with us but as soon as we got in the line to go down the slide she started screaming bloody murder. She didn't stop until they started going and then she was totally fine going down the whole time. Again, she had no nap that day. Let's just say, we love nap time :D
After the alpine slides, we went to lunch and then that night we went bowling with the whole family. It was a lot of fun! Then we played some games and off to bed we went.

Vivian with Emry, Jacks, and Leah. We took turns watching the kids while the other adults went on the ride. 

 Ryan on the coaster

 Me on the coaster

 They also had little kid rides that the kids did. There was a merry go round, this planes ride, and a train ride. They loved it!

 We got her on the plane when she starts throwing a fit because she meant she wanted to go on the train. So we got off the planes and went on the train instead. We had some rough days without naps...

On Saturday, we woke up, packed the car, and headed home. We had so much fun with all our family and can't wait for next year. These trips are always filled withe fun and it's a great time for Emry to become better friends with her cousins. 

Wesley's Blessing

 This cute little man was blessed today on Sunday, July 20, 2014. It was a wonderful blessing and it was great to have so many family members there to share this special day with us.

Here is the cute little man in his darling blessing outfit.

 

 

Family Pictures

  

Grandma and Grandpa Gardner

Grandma and Grandpa Whitaker

Great Grandmas

Wesley at 1 Month

I'm torn. It's been a month since this little guy has come into our family and on one hand it feels like no way it has been that long already. On the other hand, it seems like he has been a part of our family forever! Either way, we love him so much.

Emry just loves Wesley. She is just so cute with him. Sometimes when she walks by him she just stops and gives him a kiss and cuddles him. She always says, "he loves his big sister!"

At 1 month:

*Has always been a GREAT eater. We had no issues with breast feeding from day 1. He just latches right on so easily. It was nice not having to deal with trying to teach him how to nurse.
*Loves to just lay and hang out by himself. Sometimes he will be fussy and I will try to bounce him, rock him, shsh him and nothing will work. Then I'll just put him down and he will be as happy as can be, just laying and relaxing.
*Wears size 1 diapers and 0-3 month size clothes
*Already is chunking up quite nicely. I love my chunky babies!
*Has his "fussy" time after his 7 o'clock feeding and has a hard time going down for the night. But then he falls asleep and I wake him up for one last feeding at 10 or 1030 and he sleeps until somewhere between 3 and 4. Then he's back to sleep till 7. He's been sleeping in his own room since about day 5 or something...
*He is the funniest. He loves to be swaddled and then held with his body held across my body and his head just kinda hanging off my arm (so it's like he is looking up). Its' so funny! 
*He likes tummy time pretty well and can lift his head pretty well too. Moves his head from side to side and will just look around. 

We love this cute little man!

 

He looks so little on that big blanket!

 Hi Wesley!!

Wesly's Birth Story

From the time I found out we were pregnant, I was pretty sure this baby was going to be late, just like the other two. Our due date was June 3rd, but I jokingly told people I should just say my due date was June 10th because my doctor said he wouldn't really let me go longer than 41 weeks. So although I was pretty sure this baby was going to be late, when June 3rd came and went it was pretty disappointing. At 39 weeks, my doctor started asking "Why is this baby still in there?" His guess was as good as mine! At 38 weeks, I was already dilated to a 2 and at 39 weeks I was a 3. My doctor kept asking me why we weren't getting this baby out (inducing) and the only answer I had for him was that I really wanted to go into labor on my own (for once!!). We decided to schedule an induction for my due date, June 3rd. I scheduled the induction but didn't really feel very good about that decision. Not that I felt bad about it, but it just didn't seem right. So the night before, I called the hospital and canceled my induction and decided to just go in for my last appointment. So at 40 weeks I was a 4+ and my water was "bulging." At that appointment my doctor said that if I waited till 41 weeks to induce and my water broke before then, I wouldn't make it in time to get my antibiotics (for being strep positive). So we decided to schedule my induction for that Saturday, June 7th. I didn't want to get induced but this time, scheduling this induction felt right. That really helped me feel a lot better when Saturday came along.  We headed in at around 830 and by 9 I had my IV and my antibiotics were started. I was a 5 when I got there, so that was promising!! They also started me on some Pitocin. Inductions really are not all that exciting, so for the first 3 hours, we just kinda hung out. Actually, I sent Ryan out to get me a magazine because we were pretty bored.
We had such a fantastic nurse. She had been an L&D nurse for 40 years and she really knew what she was doing. It was funny, though, because she asked me if I was wanting an epidural. I told her I wanted to see how far I could go and when I didn't want to feel any more, I would get the epidural. She took that as I wanted to try to go naturally. She was totally supportive and I'm kinda glad she thought that because she wasn't asking me every second if I wanted my epidural.
My doctor, Dr. England, came to see me shortly after we got there, checked things out, and said he'd be back to break my water later. He wanted to wait to break my water until after I had 2 doses of the antibiotic. The pitocin started to work and I was feeling more and more contractions, but nothing too bad. At noon, my doctor came back and broke my water and then the labor really started. My water had some meconium in it, which means the baby had a bowel movement in the womb. Because of this, there is increased risk for breathing problems with the baby. It was at this point that I was glad we induced this baby and didn't wait any longer with him in the meconium. After my water was broken, I got pretty uncomfortable laying on the bed with all those monitors attached to me so I got on the birthing ball to get a little more comfortable. That worked for a while but by about 130 I decided I wanted the epidural. My nurse wanted to check me one more time because she thought maybe I was really close and we could have the baby fast enough so I didn't have to get the epidural. She checked me and I was only a 6+ so she called the anesthesiologist. At this point I was on the bed from being checked and it was really uncomfortable so he couldn't have come soon enough. Dr. Rich walked in and was getting ready to do the epidural when he got a call saying that some other lady was still really uncomfortable. He told the other nurse that he would come dose that lady before giving me my epidural. I almost screamed, "no!!!" but kept it together as he walked out. He was probably only gone for like 5 minutes tops but it felt like longer. Ryan kept asking what he could do to help me and I kept saying, get that doctor back here!! haha. He finally came back and did my epidural pretty fast. It kicked in within 10 minutes or so and life was better again. :D After the epidural was in and I wasn't feeling any pain, I tried to just relax while we waited for my body to do it's job. My nurse told me to tell her when I was feeling any pressure or feeling like I needed to push. After an hour or so, I felt a little pressure and so the nurse checked me and said the baby was still pretty high and I wasn't complete yet. She also said that the baby was kind of sideways, instead of completely anterior like he should be. This is when I was so glad for such a great, confident nurse. She was so calm and told me he would turn so confidently that I totally believed her. She said as he would turn and then he will drop. So she had me switching from my left to my right side like every 5 minutes to get the baby moving a little bit. I said, I kinda felt like I had to pee, but I had a catheter in. I didn't feel like my bladder was full but I felt the pressure to pee. She kinda messed with the catheter and then she decided to just take it out. She left and then about 5 minutes later, I was feeling more pressure, but I was feeling kind of stupid because I had already told her like twice I was feeling pressure, and the baby was still really high. So after trying to ignore the pressure for a couple of contractions, I just had to call her because I was feeling a lot of pressure. She came in and said, it can be that fast, so let's see. She checked me and said, oh ya, the baby dropped. She said she thought the bulb from the catheter was somehow blocking the baby from dropping so when she took it out, the baby was able to drop.
The nurse called my doctor to come (he was only like 10 minutes away) but I was really struggling not to push. Even with the epidural, I was feeling so much pressure it was almost impossible to not push. I had to do funny pulse breathing through each contraction to keep me from pushing. The nurse would check me and then tell me, don't worry, as long as you don't push, Dr England will make it in time. And I would think, I really really really want to push!! My doctor finally walked in and so it was time to finally push. It was kinda ironic because while we were waiting for Dr England to get there, I was on my side and it was almost impossible to not push and then when he got there, I went to my back to push and suddenly, I didn't feel so much pressure. I only had to push for like 10 minutes and then our baby boy was here and he was perfect and healthy!!!
On June 7, 2014 at 4:47 pm baby boy Gardner was born! 8 lbs 9 oz, 20.5 inches and cute as can be!!
I was really dreading inducing again, but this experience changed my mind about inductions. It was a great experience and in the end all that really matters is healthy baby, healthy mom.
After delivery, I tried breastfeeding and Wesley latched on immediately and ate for like 20 minutes on each side!! He has always been such a fantastic eater, for which I am totally thankful for! We are totally in love with our little guy!!

Happy Birthday Wesley!!

Wesley Scott Gardner

Introducing

Wesley Scott Gardner

June 7, 2014    ~     4:47 PM

8 lbs 9 oz    ~    20.5 inches

Emry Turns 2!!!

 Happy 2 Years Emry!! 

We love Emry so much and can't believe how big she has gotten! For her birthday, we had so much fun with friends and family at the Herriman Reservoir. It was the perfect day to go: not too hot and there was practically no one there so it was really nice. I will let the pictures tell about the rest of her day!

Happy Birthday sweet girl. We love you so much!

We asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday and she kept saying, "I'm gonna make a cake!" So we made her cake and she got to lick the beater! 

 Cute girl at the beach

 Grandma came into town on Emry's birthday. We love Grandma Debbie!

 Emry and Rylee hanging out at the beach

 Daddy even came by on his lunch break to visit us

 Emry and Lila playing in the sand

 Birthday presents!

 Emry and Lila, Emry and Gavin flying her new kite with Grandpa Gardner, Emry and Gabby, Emry and Grandma Gardner

Eating our cupcake we baked

  Eating yummy cupcakes

 I had to teach her how to pick it up and eat it!

 Cute girl

 Our family! (including baby boy!)

 She loved her dress up clothes she got for her birthday. She loves all things princess!!!

 Cinderella!!

Potty Training

For the last month or so, I've been thinking Emry has been getting ready to potty train, but I just wasn't sure I was ready to take on that task, so I kept putting it off and putting it off. Well, 2 weeks ago, I decided to just go for it. With new baby boy arriving in 2 months, I decided it was either now or not until the baby was at least 3 months old (so 5 months away). I thought it was putting it off too long if I was going to wait that long, so I just went for it!

Emry enjoying lemonade and crackers while hanging out in her new underwear!

Day 1 was totally awful. We did have 3 total successes but we had like 20 accidents and I actually had to do laundry during Emry's nap to get her more clean underwear. By the end of the day, I was really exhausted and my large, pregnant body was aching and sore. (Just ask Ryan, I was beat!) And honestly, I was pretty discouraged. 

Day 2 was much better. We had way more successes and less accidents. And even the accidents we did have were not huge like Day 1. They were much smaller. Also, Emry pooped on the potty with NO problem. She has had no issues with poop pretty much the whole time we've been potty training. (Huge blessing!) 

Day 3 and on: She pretty much has it down. Every day she gets better and better. When she has to go she will say, "pee pee" and then I have to run her to the bathroom. Normally, I don't have very much time to get her on the toilet, but even that is getting better and better. 

We did it!!! (Ok, this is only day 2, but it felt like a victory after a rough day 1!!! haha)

Emry is definitely growing up and isn't my baby anymore. It makes me very sad, but it's also fun to have not changed a diaper for 2 weeks now! 

Updation

Some updates in picture form:

She loves to play in the sink and make a giant mess in the water. Entertainment for hours (ok, not really hours, but for a long time)

Spring has arrived (and hopefully is gonna stick around!). Also, we started potty training Emry (more on this later) hence the hanging out in her underwear.

The family came to visit for Liv's blessing. Here is Cam catching Emry as she goes down the slide. They really love each other!!

At Liv's blessing.  The cute girls in their matching dresses.

Eating yummy chocolate treats at the blessing.

Our little family at the blessing. Notice the large 31 week belly (aka baby boy)

FHE at the temple. Love how much this girl loves the temple. We are so blessed to have a temple so close and so Emry sees the temple basically any time we leave the house. I think this helps in her understanding and love of the temple.

22 Months

Did she just grow up all of the sudden or what? Wow! Can't believe we are only 2 months away from 2 and then sometimes I totally can because she is such a big girl!! I really can't classify her as my baby anymore :( 

Some fun stuff that's going on:

*Potty training!! Shortly before 22 months (like a week before) we decided to just go for it and get this girl out of diapers. She was totally ready and she is doing GREAT!! She now refers to herself as a BIG GIRL!! 

*Pretty much obsessed with anything Princess related. She knows all the princesses by name and can sing all their songs. She knows which prince belongs with which princess and even has her own pair of glass slippers. I'll tell ya, this girl loves her princesses

*Her favorite book is the "princess book" which means we basically read the same book over and over and over again night after night. She never gets tired of it, so we oblige nightly.

*Loves her cousins (especially baby Livvy and baby Oliver). She is definitely a baby person. Any time there is a baby around, she has to kiss them on the head.

*Very caring and sensitive. Any time she hears a baby cry she always looks at me very concerned and says, "baby crying, mom." Then she'll say, "don't cry baby, be happy!" It's darling. She is going to be the very best big sister!!

*Speaking of which, she loves "baby brother" and still loves to give him kisses. She will tell you his name if you ask her, although we're still not sure that is the final name... haha. 

*Loves dancing

*Loves her Daddy. Can't wait for dad to come home every night. Also, if anything is ever broken, she will say, "Daddy fix it?" or if I tell her that I can't do something (like spin her around for the millionth time or throw her in the air again and again) she will say, "Daddy Can?!" like she is very hopeful that when Dad gets home, the fun will begin!!

*Started wearing 2T clothes

*Loves swimming

*Knows her own full name. And it's adorable any time she says it--Emry Kate Gardner. So funny!

*Loves the park. She started going down all the slides by herself, that brave little girl! And I think she's a little too brave because she even tries to do the ladder by herself. That crazy little girl! 

We love this girl so much. Sometimes, I'll just stare at her and wonder how we got so blessed to have the sweetest, cutest, loveliest little girl! I hope she always knows how much I love her and want her to be happy! Love you Emry Kate! 

Eating treats at Baby Livvy's blessing

Being darling at Baby Livvy's blessing

Reading books in mom and dad's bed in her big girl undies

 Grandma Donna spoiled her and bought her her very own glass slippers! She loves them so much!! 

So big that we decided to start driving lessons early. 

Lucky Me

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

I don't really believe in being "lucky" so much. I like to use the word blessed more because I believe I am incredible blessed from my Heavenly Father. But since it's St Patrick's Day, we'll call it "luck" for a day.

 It was warm enough last weekend to go to the park without bundling up too much and this girl got to go on the swings with her daddy. Lucky her!! (Oh ya, and he liked it too so lucky him too!)

 This girl wanted to snuggle and watch a movie. Lucky ME for sure!! I will take all the snuggles I can get. This girl is too busy to sit and snuggle most of the time so this is just precious!!

28 Weeks with this little man. Lucky Gardner Family. Emry is so excited for her "baby brother." Also, lucky us that everything is still looking great!! 

On Friday, I stole this cute little girl for a girl's cousins day at the indoor swimming pool. Lucky Lila and Emry. They had so much fun swimming in their floaties (like really, they swim). I was a little worried watching these two busy bodies by myself in the pool but I just told them over and over if they weren't obedient and listen to me, then we had to leave. That actually worked very well and they stayed together for the most part.

 

These two getting dressed after swimming. Lucky Me that they wanted to sit in the lockers so they weren't running everywhere while we were getting dressed. 

We stopped for ice cream after our day of swimming. Lucky Everyone. Happy babies are fun!

 Yesterday, Emry wouldn't take a nap before church which means no nap for her. (I don't like 1 o'clock church.) But that means by about 6 PM this girl was so tired she was passing out snuggles and fell asleep on Daddy. Lucky Dad and Lucky Em for having such a great Dad.

We are so blessed and it's fun to have a reason to reflect on all we are "lucky" for!