Miss Independent

My girl hit 2 months old on Tuesday and to say its going by so fast is an understatement.  She is so independent it's slightly ridiculous, it makes me sad but inside I know its great that she has her own personality! Honestly I am only useful for a couple things;

1. Milk Commas 
2. Diaper Duty
3. Taxi Service

You may be thinking wow dramatic much Brittany, but no I am not kidding! This chick has decided to take it upon herself to start sleeping in her room 6-8 hours a night wake up to eat and then goes right back to sleep (not complaining about that) and she puts herself to sleep most nights. What the... does she not like mom and baby snuggle time as much as mom does? 

Really this girl is a gem and I love her to pieces. We have so much fun at home and I am sad to start back to work in January but luckily I know she is in good hands and I am only T minus 2 minutes away. I am so grateful for my family and their willingness to serve me and this little lady! I know she is going to absolutely LOVE hanging out with them every day!

On her 2 month birthday we went and hiked Camelback Mountain with Kyle and Andrea. It was fun and she did so well!! There is something about the outdoors that this girl loves! Sometimes Gentry will be working outback pounding on stuff and we will just sit and watch and the noise doesn't even phase her, its nuts! 

I am pretty sure this girl is going to make it to the Olympics for gymnastics! Ok, maybe far fetched but totally possible! She has the strongest legs and is always moving! I absolutely love how active she is but really again where is the nice calm baby that loves to snuggle?!? Oh ya, I forgot we left that one at the hospital! 

Speaking of hospital, I totally forgot to tell this pretty funny story that I experienced in there.  My baby had pretty bad jaundice so sadly she was put under the lights over night and I thought my world was coming to an end. I had to hold back my tears because it made me so sad to see her lying there with something covering her eyes and her being alone for such a long time. I then snapped back into reality and realized hey its not that bad and some babies are worse off then mine. Anyways while I was sitting visiting my sweet little one I overheard this young mom say how discouraged she was because her baby wont nurse. I jokingly said its ok mine falls asleep so we both are having struggles. The Dr came in to check on her little boy and they were scheduling when to do his circumcision and she asked if at that time she would like to schedule to get his extra finger removed!! Haha this boy had an extra finger, how awesome is that?!? The mom said man I have no idea where this boy came from he has B+ blood type, he hates my food I try to give him, and he has an extra finger! Its a good thing she could laugh about it even though I could tell she was having a hard time. 

Anyways thats about all I have to share, well besides these cute pictures

Her face is priceless in this picture! 
 

 
 

7 weeks and a day

Being a mom is some hard work! Granted I do sleep a lot because I think she got my love of taking snoozes but one thing I would like to think she DIDN'T get from me is her case of the dramatics! Oh my, if you don't believe me take her for a couple hours while she isn't sleeping and you will have an instant change of heart! I must admit she is doing a lot better but she still feels the need to be held at all times, I blame those who don't believe in putting her down.... Slowly she is beginning to like her toys, thank goodness! We have swing time, floor time which during floor time she skoots.. ya my baby is wicked strong be jealous or don't be because you can probably leave your child unattended and know they will be in the same spot you left them and I can't. We also found that she hates the bath and LOVES the shower, she goes into an instant milk comma after eating, and giggles and laughs all the time now! I sure love this girly and am grateful I have this little family of mine! 

 

 

Little Lady is Here!

Well the day has come and gone... or should I say days have come and gone and this little girl is FINALLY here!!! I wont get into the labor story because it was 30 hours long.... and it could take a million blog posts to get through the whole thing, all I can say is if that happens again we are going to be a 2 kid family ONLY! We are nothing but happy to have her part of our family!

Leightyn Shay Shumway

October 18 * 12:26 pm * 6lb 14oz * 19.5 in. long

Now Some Thoughts:

* I am getting really good at staying calm during her amazingly long crying sessions!

* She sleeps like a champion and makes things a lot easier on me, sometimes I think she sleeps to long

* Gentry told me that if I was a milk cow I would be a champion...weird

* Criminal minds has become one of my favorite shows

* Staying home alone with a baby all day can get tough and so when Gentry gets home I am ecstatic to talk to an adult but most times he is so worn out from the day that our conversations have become quite short

* People don't update on Facebook enough in the day... or I check it to much :)

* My phone battery use to last 2 days but not any longer, I should probably find better things to do with my time

* Buying diapers is expensive! Especially if your child is so small that she is still in NB and probably will be there awhile and all you have is a closet full of size 1... lame!

* Same with clothes! She has a ton 0-3 Months but they are much to big on her so she rocks onsies all the time, I feel bad

* We have been to church twice and both times she slept through the whole thing, she is a rock star

* She takes forever to wake up, I think she gets that from me! I wonder if me snoozing my alarm so many times while she was in the womb affected her...my guess is yes!

* She gives the best evil eye while eating

* Often times I feel like she looks like a monkey

* She is the gas master, no joke, she ripped one in Sunday school and I couldn't stop laughing I felt kind of immature but for reals it was hilarious!

* Sometimes I shoot her in the face with milk... its totally on accident but I laugh hysterically 

* Being a mom is tough work but when she is happy, healthy and growing it brings a smile to my face

 

 

Annoying? I don't think so....

My dear husband has been so busy lately I sometimes wonder to myself if he just plans to purposefully be gone 24/7 because I tend to get on his nerves when he is around. What can I say, I get excited to actually spend time with the dude that I follow him around like a puppy dog! 

I bring this up because I just read a blog of a woman which I believe we could share tactics on how to drive our husbands CRAZY! I do believe I do a great job and he definitely tells me and calls me a punk almost on a daily basis haha, but sadly those times have dwindled down to almost nothing which means... I need to step up my A game because I am pretty sure he truly misses it. Like this one time he told me tickling is the WORST kind of torture and then a couple months later I asked him what he would miss if something happened to me and in that list was tickling... hmmmm a little suspicious don't you think? He and my sisters bash me almost every Sunday dinner saying how annoying I am and that I just need to leave them alone, don't they know any better it just makes me want to bother them even more? 

 While in Wisconsin my LLC *Long Lost Cousin* Kendall and his wife Kaytee were in the car with us and Amanda asked Kaytee what are some of the annoying things Kendall does. Mind you people that Kendall is almost my twin in this way and we are pranksters and love love love you know messing with people, we truly were meant to be related! Well Kaytee said it drives her crazy when she is yawning and Kendall sticks his finger in her mouth, People that is one of my signature moves!!!! I do it almost any time he yawns but he has turned into a feisty little guy and is now biting my finger... that stinker! 

I often wonder if he was around more if I would like to bother him as much as I do. I'm almost positive I would because I lived with my sisters for you know 20+ years and it still doesn't get old with them. With Amanda I still sometimes go in her room and if she is watching tv I turn it off and tuck her into bed and hide her remote, she loves it, she told me herself that she misses it sometimes. With Brandi all you have to do is grace her foot with your hand and she flips out like a crazy person, I may have taught Shelbie and Carston this!

I love the bonding time I get with these individuals and how they "Put Up" with my annoying habits as they would call them. Really the only reason I like to do it is because they laugh hysterically while I do these things and it brings me true happiness knowing I have made them laugh that day. So here is to you people of my life, thank you for putting up with my awesomeness!

Dear Baby Shumway 1

To My Little Girl,

I just wanted to document these last couple weeks we have together, just you and me. When people ask me how I like pregnancy I can't help but be honest and tell them that I don't like it. It hasn't been the easiest thing for me to adjust to that is for sure. Just to name a few; gaining weight that I don't want to, crying all the time to dad, having trouble rolling out and getting into bed because I just had to have a tall bed, peoples opinions on if I have gained to much weight or not enough and the list goes on and on. BUT I have come to realize that every time I feel movement I smile and it brings me happiness.I like to think I know you already and that you like to play jokes like me. I like to think you are crazy active like your dad. I can't help but think you are the cutest girl around town... well besides your cousin. I get excited to see all the cute little clothes you will be rocking in no time. I think you have helped me get over my need for 8 hours of sleep because I definitely only get about 4 to 5 a night now but somehow I manage with a good attitude. Even though this has been a crazy hard time for me I know I already love the result! I told dad the other day that I want to tell you that you are no longer welcome in my belly and you need to come out, he didn't like that and didn't want you to feel unloved so he said Baby Leightyn we love you but you are more than welcome to come out! I guess he is a lot sweeter then me. 

We are finally starting on your room! I had a dream the other night that your crib was made out of cardboard and your dad told me I couldn't return it because "It would do", I woke up an emotional mess. Lets make note your crib is not made out of card board and pretty soon it will be put up and ready for you! 

Little Girl there are so many people excited to see you, especially your cousin Shelbie so lets stay in as long as needed but hopefully not to long, her heart would be crushed just as much as mine! Make note little girl that Shelbie loves you a ton already and wants to start teaching you the ropes right away so be prepared to start learning!

I sure love you a ton and am counting down the weeks until I get to share you with everyone! 6 weeks to go!!!

Love mom

Funny Girl

So, I have this niece that I love with all my heart. She is the funniest most caring little girl I have ever met in my life. Here are some facts to back up my statement:

1. We were sitting down to plan my baby shower and everyone was saying what they would take care of and she said I will take care of the bathtub! It took me awhile to understand what she was talking about but once I got it I couldn't stop laughing!
2. She goes to the library every Monday and one day she got to pick a prize and out of everything she picked out a baby bib for her baby Leighton, my heart melted that she even thought about her. Granted its probably the most hideous bib but I will probably still use to because that little girl picked it out for her!
3. One time I told Carston to get in the house and he didn't listen so I shut the backdoor to try to get him to realize hey I am serious (didn't help, he didn't give a rip) One person did care though, Shelbie started crying hysterically that I left her brother outside by himself!

Those are just some things I have been thinking about lately and how sad it makes me that she is growing up so fast, but yet it's so fun to see her being a big girl and so excited to meet her baby Leighton. Miss Shelbie I sure love you!

 
 

To Gentry

Happy Fathers Day...Almost!

Although he isn't a "Dad" quite yet he does have something in the works that he is super excited to meet! He is going to teach her everything I wouldn't, he is going to let her do everything I wouldn't, he is going to show her such love that I won't be able to show her because there is something about a dad a girl adores. I'm excited to see their bond, I'm excited to see if she has my favorite characteristics about him, I'm excited to see if she will have his carefree attitude and skip my stress mania personality, I'm excited to see his reaction when he first lays eyes on her. I know he is going to be a great dad and I am excited to witness it in just a couple months! We love you Gentry!

Brittany and Leighton

 

WHO?!?!

Attention future casters (my definition: people who cast people for movies) for The Grinch Stole Christmas my child may be the perfect candidate for the leading role of a WHO!

HAHAHAHA She cracks me up a ton!!!!!! I'm pretty sure she may be sucking her bottom lip or something because this is the only ultrasound picture that looks like this but is it not totally funny? I don't think her dad aka my husband likes it when I make fun of her but really how could you not laugh about it? She is totally cute and my favorite but I am still her mom and can think she is silly!

Kicker

At 19 weeks I still hadn't felt this girl move but i know she is active due to the ultrasound on Tuesday, she was all over the place! We were laying in bed last night trying to go to sleep, I guess I should say I was trying Gentry was out cold, anyways it was then I felt something weird. I thought it was just gas but then it happened again and again and again and again one after another for probably five minutes. I was giddy with excitement and contemplating waking Gentry up, I tried and said hey give me your hand and feel this... his response "Cool" and when right back to sleep! haha I asked him this morning if he remembers anything from last night and said he remembers me bothering him but doesn't remember feeling anything! It was just seconds later that I felt her push her head, butt, or something round into my left side and luckily he could feel and see that! It was sooo super cool! Just thought I would document this so I don't forget that she has started out as a very active individual!

To a friend/brother

Yesterday marked 8 years since my dear friend Carl Iaulualo passed on. I remember it like it was yesterday, nothing can prepare you for such shocking news. A lot of people knew this great individual but no one got to experience living as close to him as my family did. Those memories with my siblings and the Iaulualo's are ones I hold dear to my heart. Yesterday many people were talking about stories they remember about him, but I had a different outlook yesterday, I feel as if he was telling my sweet little girl stories about me to prepare her for me! I am so grateful that he was such a great friend/brother from another mother! I think many people feel the same way, he wasn't just a friend but family to them! Here's to you Carl, I love and miss you tons but thank you for loving my little girl up there!

 

Little Girl...

Little miss has quite the personality in her short little fetal life thus far if you ask me! {I think she gets that from me} She has definitely sent me on an emotional roller coaster, her dad I think so but he tries to act tough for me. 

First off she wasn't "Planned" exactly, we were discussing it and went to the old trusty write what you think on a piece of paper and trade and discuss it. For whatever reason I put YES on the paper {I think I may have been baby hungry that day} and he put NO. I was a little sad and didn't want to force him into anything he wasn't ready for, so it was NO for baby making! I think a month went past and oooooops turns out I was a couple days late, so I went to the handy dandy dollar store and got 2 tests and was shaking up a storm because remember it was a NO and my mind was set on no. Well I took the tests and Heavenly Father had a different plan for us. He was at work and I was home alone crying from the shock I had no idea what to do! He was ecstatic when he opened the picture and called me so excited and then realized I was still crying! He has been nothing but excited since day one! Me on the other hand I have struggled quite a bit.

We decided to keep it a secret until we had our first ultra sound! {I kept a secret for OVER 2 WEEKS, I think that must be a record!} My bladder was completely full and was leaving me with unbelievable crapping pains, so bad that when I tried to relieve a little I couldn't because my muscles were so tight, ridiculous I tell you! We get our first ultra sound and she was just a blob, we thought she looked real similar to a blueberry! We planned to tell family, my family first by taking them to dinner for "March Birthdays" and his family to have ice cream before his mom and sister left for SPAIN! As we were leaving the dr I stopped in the bathroom to relieve even more pee, and this is where the first disaster happened. I found a ton of blood on the toilet paper and it just kept coming. I walk out crying and told Gentry that I think I lost it! He was so confused and thought I was talking about the ultra sound pictures! hahaha We hurry into the dr and she checked me and said that it has stopped and that she can't tell where it was coming from so we were sent home with no answers!!!! I felt so confused!!! We now didn't know if we should tell anyone but decided to go on with it and tell our families. We told my family and my mom started bawling!!! It was almost comical! She couldn't believe that her baby girl was having a baby of her own! We also informed them of the incident that happened at the dr's office so they were aware if anything else happened. I went 4 hours with no bleeding and then it happened again. We were confused and scared on what to do. My mom could tell something was up so she told us to go to the ER. I hesitated because i wanted to tell his family but i felt so concerned for this baby and myself so we went. He called his dad to tell him and this was the first time I saw him cry about it {I had been crying all day} It was tender and really helped me feel like I wasn't crazy! So off to the ER we went! 4 hours later we find out I had a tear between my placenta and uterus where they are suppose to meet and there was a 50/50 chance she would live or die! Even tho it was such odds I still felt at easy because I finally knew what it was!

We went to his family's house after to say goodbye and let them in on the news and I received a blessing which I think helped a lot. After this happened I became distant from this pregnancy. I wouldn't allow myself to feel anything for her, which makes me sad but I didn't want to get attached if that makes any sense. We had a couple bleeding episodes in between dr's appointments and the dr said if it continues in month 4 then we need to get real concerned, luckily I haven't had any since the beginning of April!!

Let me just say April took forever!!! May went fast which I was super happy for because I had to wait until week 19 to get my ultra sound to find out the sex! This made everything so real! I invited my sister Amanda to come and obviously Gentry went as well! It was AMAZING!!! I loved looking at that little girl! She is a mover, which I have yet to really feel! The ultra sound tech showed us her face and my dear husbands response was "Oh It looks kinda scary" the tech then realized it is our first so she did a 3D one to show us a little better! Oh my is she the cutest little girl ever!! I am obsessed!  I was so entertained just watching the huge screen and watching her move! We waited to see the doc to explain about the ultra sounds and she was happy and cheery and then says I need another ultra sound! The tech wasn't able to get all of her heart because she kept moving and because they found a tiny cyst on her little brain. Again my heart dropped! She explained that its pretty common but they want to make sure it is ok, she said most likely it will go away on its own. I'm hoping she is right! My goodness girl can you give your mom a break? I am already 1 million times more emotional then before and then one thing after another just adds to my emotional side! 

We told everyone by getting the "Its a boy" balloon and changing it to GIRL!!! We did this because everyone thought she was going to be a boy minus Gentry and my sister Sommer. My mom saw the balloon and threw her hands in the air and said I knew it a boy!! bahahaha I said lady put your glasses on because its a girl!!! {She was much more happy after she heard that} Shelbie girl was bummed she wanted a boy but now all she talks about is Baby Shumway and how she is going to share her baby dolls with her! 

Boy, we are so excited and we just can't wait for her to get here! She is a gem and we can't wait to meet her in October!!

Meet baby Leighton!!!

Random acts of a pregnant lady

Someone PLEASE tell me I am not the only one that has totally lot their mind while being pregnant?? No joke, brain cells lost, can't remember anything!!

1. I locked my keys in my car, ask me how that is possible when I have a clicker?

2. I was texting Gentry with the remote and looked down to read the text and realized it was the remote not my phone. How again is that possible when my phone is touch screen and my remote has buttons?

3. I was going to brush my teeth and ALMOST put hand soap on my toothbrush thinking it was tooth paste!

What has happened to me? I also wake up and random hours of the night wide awake ready to start my day. Saturday I woke up at 3am and was awake until 6am and figured I should try to fall back asleep and today I woke up at 5:30 bored out of my mind and tried to wait patiently for Gentry to wake up but sadly that didn't happen. I had to wake him up at 7:30 because I was so bored. He woke up and got up to go to the bathroom and told him not to look at the time because he might be upset due to the fact we have church at 12:30. Poor guy, I'm glad he woke up happy! :)

Just some thoughts

I feel like since getting pregnant that I am much more vocal and opinionated! That being said I just needed to vent on some feelings I have had lately, poor Gentry has had to hear me rant about these things because I had no one else to say them to.

1. What happened to honesty? Has that just been thrown on the back burner? Do people now think oh I will only be honest when its convenient for me? In the last week and a half I know of 3 car accidents, yes 3, where the individual that hit them was either dishonest and lied to the cop, hit and ran, or was about to leave but got caught before they had the chance to!  What in the world happened to taking responsibility for your actions?

2. R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!! Holy H Cow!!!! I know I am not perfect by any means but I do believe I have a good sense of what it appropriate to put on my blog or facebook. (And if I have offended anyone in what I have put on my blog or facebook, consider this my apology.)  Taking pictures of individual people (not knowing them) and posting them on facebook for the whole world to see, making fun of them, to me is beyond rude! What if someone you are friends with knows that person in that picture, what if you offend someone by the comment you put with that picture? Lets please use our conscience and think of what you would feel like if someone snapped a picture of you and put a rude comment on the picture on facebook, how would you feel?

3. Judgmental much?!?! GUILTY as charged, if anything I am super judgmental, its a trial I face that I try very hard not to but turns out I am human and slip up more then I would like. I just have ran across a couple things that A. Made me furious by reading because I felt attacked and that that person thought they were so much better then the next person and that if you did this certain thing or watched this certain movie you were a complete and utter sinner.  Cool, have your opinion about the topic but please don't state it in a way that makes you look like, well I am going to make this choice and go straight to Heaven and if you make the choice of doing whatever you are going to Hell. B. Hurt. Hurt that someone would think it was o.k. to put a conversation piece out there while someone is going through such a hard time. I was just thinking what if it was me that someone was posting about, what if someone didn't agree with how I was living my life and the decision I made in a certain area of life. If I came across that at that time in my life I would probably feel completely betrayed and hurt that someone thinks that they would be able to make better choices then me in that certain circumstance and that they know so much more about my life. 

People I am not trying to be holier then thou, that has never really been my type of attitude. In my life I have seen many things to make me appreciate what I have and the knowledge I have of the gospel and to know I can progress and grow and if I make a wrong decision I am not damned to hell, I still have a chance to make it back to live with my Heavenly Father. I am very grateful for that because if anyone needs that, I do.  I just want to make the point that I am very glad I am not the one that has to judge each and everyone of us, so with that being said I would like to challenge myself and you to pay attention to what you are about to post anywhere and think is this really appropriate and is it really my place to being saying something like this. I know we aren't perfect but why not keep trying?

Thanks for reading if you took the time!

Surprise!!

Just call me Brace Face Mama and Gentry Cave Man Daddy because

we are having a BABY!!!

It came as a surprise to us but we are thrilled! 

Lovey Eyes

Now I probably wouldn't have anything to write about on my blog if it weren't for GentDawg, he likes to be called that! No joke, our internet is literally under cdoggent.... Anywho I always have a day that I am super lovey dovey and I guess that's when I decide to write on my blog. I am very grateful for this awesome individual in my life, he loves me no matter what; when we are happy with each other, when I make him mad, when I annoy him! It amazes no matter what we can look pass things and still see the love! I once heard something, now I am not saying I quote because this is me paraphrasing but I heard someone say when you are mad at your partner look into their eyes and think about why you fell in love with them and focus on that rather than the silly thing you may be disagreeing about. I think this is amazing advise not only when you are in an argument but even when you are having a happy go lucky moment. I know I have definitely been focusing on this and it seems to be helping my own self get over things a little faster and being happier with life. Now go out and try it... you just might like it!

Yo boyfriend

So I like this boy, my problem is that he keeps texting me and texting me.
Our Convo today
Me: I'm really digging that it's Friday!!
Him: Oh you got big plans this weekend?
Me: Just to hang it with a hunky dude
Him: Oh yeah is he your boyfriend?
Me: I guess you could call him that. He doesn't look like the man I
married a year ago! He has a gnarly beard now!
Here he is!!!


*We have this weird joke going about boyfriends and girlfriends, I always tell him next time he has his girlfriend over to make sure she cleans up her dark hair because its EVERYWHERE!! {because I have a MAJOR shedding prob} And he texts me about my boyfriend {perfect example above!}*

Brace yourself

My new look for 2012!!!