New Phones

So why am I actually posting on my blog about new cell phones you ask? Well, Devon and I have ALWAYS traded our cell phones for the free upgrade every 2 years. The phones we received were always very mediocre, which we expected because we got them for free. This time, when our 2 year free phone upgrade came around, Devon and I decided that for the first time we would actually buy COOL phones that were above mediocre and just take the discount our contracts would supply. We got our new phones yesterday, and we love them! Devon got the Samsung Solstice in black, which is 100% touch phone. I chose the LG CF360 in Neon Blue, which is 100% NOT touch screen. I'm not a huge fan of touch screens... Our favorite part of our new phones is the MP3 players with 1,000 song storage! Devon also loves all the storage for games he now intends to download. It only took us each 10 years to actually BUY a phone, but we are very excited for our purchases!

DEVON'S PHONE

MY PHONE

One More Halloween Post

This was the first year Paxon was able to help carve a pumpkin! He did most of the cleaning out, and after I cut the face-Paxon pulled the pieces out. I'm starting to see Halloween in a whole new perspective. I've always loved Halloween, but this year I felt I was enjoying Halloween through Paxon. I loved watching his excitement while carving a pumpkin and trick-or-treating! Devon and I also carved a pumpkin each. Devon's pumpkin is the one with the Bats, and mine is the one with the single bat in front of a gravestone. On Halloween afternoon, our ward had a Trunk-Or-Treat. I've always been a fan! Even when I was a senior in high school, we were going to our ward's Trunk-Or-Treat. As a parent now, I enjoyed the other part of this ward activity- DECORATING MY TRUNK!

On Halloween night, we took the kids trick-or-treating around our block. Trick-Or-Treating at the Zoo + Trunk-Or-Treating + Trick-Or-Treating on Halloween Night = A Ton of Candy for Me and Devon!!!

Two more pictures of Ryan.

BOO at the ZOO

Saturday the Salt Lake City Zoo was having their annual Boo at the Zoo. So we picked up Amber and her family, and Paxon and his cousins had a blast trick-or-treating with all the zoo animals! ***
Ryan was T-I-double Ga- EER

Haylee was a Wacky Witch, Paxon was a Cowboy, and Tessa was a Ballerina
Sadly, Paxon's cowboy boots are too big for him

It's hard to see, but Paxon does have a mustache!

Aunt Amber

Ryan finally woke up

Can you see the elephant behind Paxon?

Just some random cow that was walking around...

There is a story behind this bear. In "Fox and the Hound" there is a Bear scene towards the end of the movie that Paxon LOVES! After the scene is over, he asks for "more Bear Mama, more Bear!" So when we decided to get annual passes, Paxon could hardly wait to go see the "real" bear. Well, we have been at least 5 times since we got our passes back in May, and the two bears have NEVER been in a place where the public could see them. FINALLY, on Saturday, one of the bears was out-Paxon went crazy! He was so excited, and when we got home he had to watch Fox and the Hound. When the Bear scene came on, he kept saying, "Paxon saw the Bear!"

My little Man!

Uncle John E.

The forcast here in Utah is calling for rain on Halloween. Now if the rain does prevent trick-or-treating on All Hallow's Eve, at least Paxon got his tricks and treats out the weekend before!

Ryan's Blessing, Our Arizona Trip, and Brotherly Love

It has been too long since I have updated; I know this because of the amount of pictures I will be posting.
Ryan had her Blessing, which was an amazing day! My parents, Devon's parents, Amber-John E.-Tessa, and our good friends Jeff and Jessie Bryner came for the blessing. We had a Taco Bar after wards with some yummy pies!

A couple weeks after Ryan's blessing, we were able to take a trip down to Arizona to see our family and very, very close friends Matt and Megan. We were able to see Trey and his family, Trevor and his family, and Matt & Megan and their two boys while we were in Mesa briefly. We then drove up to Springerville where we hung out with Grammie and Grandpa, and Garrett and his family!

***

This is Mason, Matt and Megan's youngest, and on this trip he was betrothed to marry Ryan. He LOVED her, and always wanted to hold her. He kept saying how pretty she was.

Porter, Paxon, and Mason eating popsiclesTrevor and Clea's girls: Lucie, Chloe, Aubrey, and ElsieWhile up in Springerville, we had an AWESOME hale storm. It was crazy! The 4 1/2 days we were up home, Charlie, Addison, and Paxon were inseparable!

Garrett and Lori's 3 month old, Andi, with RyanLastly, I had to post some pictures showing how much Paxon adores Ryan. He is such a good big brother. We can already tell he is going to be very protective of her-especially when she starts to date (as if Devon won't give those guys a hard enough time).

Paxon loves to hold Ryan

Paxon hates when Ryan cries. He always runs to me letting me know that "sister's sad" or "Ry-Ry's sad." If I don't come right away, then he gets Ryan's binkie and will give it to her. Most of the time, Ryan will take it from Paxon and I don't have to do anything...Yes!

Picture Updates

Paxon checking out Ryan in her Bassinet

Ryan and Daddy

Paxon loves Ryan!

Paxon never took a binkie,
and Ryan will only take the huge Soothie Binkies

Paxon giving Ryan kisses

One of three outfits Ryan fits into right now in all her 6lbs 10 oz glory!

I love this face!

Paxon and his newly curly hair!

Our Daughter is Here!

Last Friday, at 10:00 pm, I went into labor. My contractions started about 7-15 minutes apart, and weren't too painful. I did a lot of walking and waiting! At 2:30am they had increased to 4 minutes apart. I grabbed my hospital bag and my mom, left my son and husband fast asleep next to each other in bed, and left for the hospital. I was only dilated to a 3 1/2 and 50% effaced, so the nurse decided to watch me for an hour and then decide if they would keep me or send me home. Shortly after she left the room, my contractions got BAD and were coming every 2 minutes and lasting about 60 seconds. Only 30 minutes later, the nurse came back in announcing that with contractions like the ones I was having, there was no way I was going anywhere. She checked me again, and I was dilated to a 5. At that point, my mom went home to switch places with Devon. Only 10 minutes later, I was dilated to a 6. Since I was progressing that quickly, they ran to get the CRNA so I wouldn't run out of time to get my epidural. Right after the CRNA arrived, Devon walked in looking completely glassy-eyed and had an expression on his face that obviously read, "Couldn't this have waited until morning..."

After my epidural, I am feeling great. I don't feel my water break-but baby sister sure did! After my water broke, each contraction I had there after brought baby sister's heart rate down to a gut-wrenching 70-80! The nurses and OB had me turning all over the place trying to find a position that she liked. Only 5 minutes later, my OB sat next to me on the bed and said, "Nicole, (right at this moment I knew exactly what she was going to say) I know you wanted to avoid a C-Section at all costs, but we need to get baby out now." I completely tear up and loose all words and just nod my head. I was so afraid something was going to happen to my baby. Before I had time to even process what was going on, I was in the operating room being prepared to be cut open. And again, I completely loose it. It was freezing in the room, 5 in the morning and I had been awake for 24 hours now, I was scared to death that my baby was dying inside of me, and my husband was who knows where being scrubbed in for the surgery. I felt so RIDICULOUS lying there balling my eyes out with my OB, a surgeon, 2 nurses, and my CRNA all standing there getting prepped for the c-section. But I couldn't stop. My chest was heaving all the way to the ceiling. When Devon came in, I was able to calm down but couldn't stop shaking. I was so cold, not to mention the adrinaline pumping through me! They put heated blankets on every inch of my body that they could so only my belly and face where showing, and I was still violently shaking. I now understand the point of the staps on the operating table! After a bunch of pressure, pulling, tugging, and shaking, I heard my daughter's cry for the first time. My OB and Devon were both saying, "Nicole, she is beautiful," and all I could say is, "So she is alive? Is she okay?" The moments that followed are too private to share, but it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

On Saturday August 15th, 2009 at 5:36 am, Ryan Christine Whiting was born strong and healthy 2 weeks early at 6 lbs 10 oz and 20 inches long. Her skin coloring is beautiful, and her hair is dark just like Paxon's was. I didn't know how I was going to share my motherly love for Paxon with our second child, but I found out right away that there is no sharing involved, my love just grew to encircle my daughter inside it. Thank you for her, Heavenly Father.

***

Just a couple minutes old

A couple mintues older...
Devon and Ryan got to my Recovery room before I did
I was still being "put back together" in the OR

First time I got to hold Ryan

Ryan's first nap.

That is the beanie the hospital gave her

I STILL had not slept! Ryan is about 5 hours old, and I have been up for 27 hours!

It was the only time I literally faught with my eyelids to keep them open.

The white things on my legs I had to wear to keep my blood

circulating until I was able to walk on my own.

Tessa and Ryan

Ryan Christine Whiting

Bicycle Rides and Swim Lessons

I have been meaning to post about these two pictures for awhile, but I kept forgetting to actually take the pictures so I could post about them. (and I'm sure I could word that sentence better-but I'm not going to try)
Devon has been wanting a bike for about 3 years now. More recently he has been talking about how fun it would be to get a Child's seat that attached to the bike so he could bring Paxon along. So, this past Father's Day, that is exactly what Devon got-a bicycle and a seat for Paxon. And Paxon absolutely LOVES going on bike rides with Dad.

We had Paxon in Swim Lesson's this summer. I cannot believe that I didn't get a single picture though! I had to settle on taking a picture of Paxon's report card. His best area was going under the water-he was the only child who didn't cry after they were dunked. His worst area was blowing bubbles in the water. For some reason Paxon did not want to have anything to do with that...