Baby purchases

Ever since I found out that I was pregnant I have wanted to go baby shopping! And of course, I only want the best things for Baby Smith! I have spent hours researching products and brands and I feel like I am now able to make some good, knowledgeable choices. One of our first purchases was the Baby Bjorn Synergy carrier. I went with the Synergy over the Original carrier, because it has a mesh fabric that is suppose to be more breathable and cooler. And I also picked it because it has an extra lumbar back support strap. I am a pretty small person and I am worried that carrying the baby in the carrier will hurt my back, so hopefully the extra lumbar support will help! I can't wait to carrry Baby Smith around at the zoo, the mall, farmers market, etc. in this cute new carrier! I can just imagine cute Spencer carrying the baby around in this, he is going to love it! :)

Another big purchase that we've made (thanks to Mark and Tammy) is our crib and matching changing table! We found this darling crib at Babies R'Us and Spencer and I just fell in love with the color. It is also a lifetime crib, so when the baby gets older we will be able to turn it into a toddler bed and also a full size bed. Pretty cool!

Spencer and I have decided that we are going to use cloth diapers for Baby Smith. I know, it sounds it a little weird, but it really seems to be the best choice. First of all it will be cheaper to buy cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers in the long run. The average child uses 6000 diapers before they are potty trained! That many diapers costs between $2000-$3000! With cloth diapers, you can expect to spend a total of $700-$800. We bought some cloth diapers last night that are just like the one in the picture. They are Bumgenius Pocket diapers 4.0 with snaps instead of velcro. These diapers grow with the child, they have snaps on the front so that you can make the diaper bigger or smaller depending on the weight and size of the child. They work for kids weighing 7-35+ pounds. So far we have a green, orange and periwinkle diaper. They are so cute!! Cloth diapers are a good choice because they are better for the environment (less waste), they're cheaper and better for the child's skin (less diaper rash).

Pregnancy

I am now 14 weeks and 4 days pregnant! I have had a pretty good pregnancy so far and I dont think that I have any room to complain. I have had nausea, but no vomiting, I have also had headaches and cramps, but my biggest complaint would have to be the fatigue. The fatigue is overwhelming and constant. I feel like I can always lay down for a nap and it's really hard to get up in the mornings. I just feel like I am missing out on things because I am always so tired. For example, Presley doesn't get as many walks and Spencer and I aren't able to go out and do as many things. I have been able to exercise though, which I think definitely helps with the fatigue. I have been doing prenatal yoga a few times a week ever since I found out I was pregnant and I also try to go to the gym once or twice a week. At the gym, I keep my workouts pretty easy, I just ride the elipticle and do some light weightlifting. Spencer has also been very supportive of me throughout the pregnancy, if I feel sick he will get me an anti-nausea pill and ask if he can do anything. If I'm really tired he doesn't push me to do anything, and he has given me plenty of backrubs. :) It's cute how excited Spencer is about the pregnancy and our baby, he is always saying that he wishes that the whole pregnancy would just hurry up already!

Before I was pregnant I was a little underweight, so my midwife wants me to gain more weight than the average pregnant woman. I am suppose to gain up to 35 pounds! Which sounds so crazy to me! I can't imagine what it is going to be like when I have gained that much weight and have a huge belly! I have already gained about 5-6 pounds and am at the heaviest weight that I have ever been. My belly started to pop out very early in the pregnancy, probably around 6 weeks. This really surprised me, I thought that wouldn't happen until I was closer to 16 weeks. That's when most women start to show with their first pregnancy. Oh well! Hopefully this just means that I will have a gradual growth and will end up with less stretch marks ;)

We have decided to have the nursery be the room that is right across the hall from our room and I can't wait to start getting it ready! I am looking forward to painting, putting the crib and changing table together and decorating! It is going to be so much fun!! I can't wait to be a mom, it is going to be so amazing to hold my little baby for the first time, February 23rd can't come soon enough!

I am planning on delivering the baby naturally, so no epidural. I have been reading about Hypnobirthing and Spencer and I are going to take a class on it Starting on September 29th. Hypnobirthing teaches relaxation and breathing techniques to help the birthing woman to stay calm and deliver without any pain medications. Most people give me some pretty weird and shocked looks when I tell them that I don't plan on having an epidural, but I am actually looking forward to the delivery. I think it's important to stay calm and relaxed and to not put any drugs into the baby. I feel like when a woman has an epidural she is missing out on an amazing once in a lifetime experience. If you don't believe me watch a video of a woman deliver without an epidural, when her baby is born and she first holds them she is overcome with joy and excitement. You don't see that with women who have had epidurals. That's just my opinion.

This is the most recent picture of my belly, it was taken at 14 weeks and 2 days

Weekend at the cabin

This past weekend we were able to go up to the cabin at Bear Lake with both of our families. We had a great time, as always. We were able to go to the beach, ride the 4-wheelers, relax and also share our big news......Spencer and I are going to be parents!!! We are 13 weeks and 5 days today and due on Feb. 23! We are so excited! I was so nervous to tell our parents, but I am glad that we waited until we were out of the high risk period (when you're most likely to have a miscarriage). We told them by taking a picture of the whole group and instead of having everyone say "cheese", Spencer had everyone say "Lauren is pregnant!". At first, everyone thought that Spencer was joking and they just laughed. But then his mom said 'wait, are you serious?', so we said yep we're serious! Then everyone got excited, hugged and told us congratulations. It was a fun way to tell everyone.

Presley and I out on the deck

everyone say cheese!

eveyone say Lauren's pregnant!

Presley at the beach

My little digger :)

One of presley's favorite people, Kirsten!

Spencer, me and the dogs (and baby!)

The drive home, Presley was pooped!

Las Vegas

In midAugust, me, Spencer and Tyler & Lindsay drove to Las Vegas for the weekend. Lindsay and I had bought tickets to see Lady GaGa at the MGM Grand a few months before and the boys joined us on our trip.  We arrived late Thursday night and spent the next day walking around the strip until it was time to get ready for the concert! The concert was amazing! Lady GaGa put on a great show! I don't think I can explain how excited Lindsay and I were, we were ecstatic! When the lights turned off and it was time for her to come on the stage, my heart leaped! I have loved her music for a while now and I couldn't believe that I was about to see her in real life. 

On Saturday, we did some more walking around the strip. We had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, which is always delicious. We watched the Atlantis show at Caesars Palace and the Treasure Island show that evening. On Sunday, we drove home. We had a great trip and I'm so glad that we were able to do it!

At the M & M store

The Harley Davidson Cafe

Lady GaGa poster

About to go to the concert

Performing Bad Romance

Being dorks, pretending like we're swimming at the Atlantis aquarium

Wedding Day!

Spencer and I got married (finally!) on Saturday June 26th! It was a perfect day and everything went smoothly. We got married at the Union Station in Ogden, in the Theater Annex. I loved the room, it was a really long room with huge metal beams in it. I think that the Union Station is a beautiful building and I am so glad that we decided to get married there. My bridesmaids were Jamie, Lindsay and Allyson and the groomsman were Jake, Logan, Jason and Tyler. We were so happy that they were all able to be a part of our special day! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the big day!

The Wedding Party

Our Families

The Kiss!

The Handsome Groomsman and Groom ( I love this pic of Spencer!)

My Beautiful Bridesmaids and Me!

Goofy Spencer

My Dream Wedding Cake!! I LOVE how it turned out!