Real joy and satisfaction...

In being who and what I am. A mom. I'm completely engulfed in everything "mom" right now. Four years ago this week I remember what it felt like to cry my eyes out wanting so badly to be a mommy. Some days I felt like maybe it wasn't really meant for me... I wasn't meant to be a mom and it was really hard on me. Everyday I have two sweet angels fall asleep on my right arm as I read them nap-time stories and my heart feels like it might burst out of my chest I'm so happy and in love and blessed. Some experiences in life really don't seem fair at the time but because of them, later you appreciate things more.
  Last year right now I was working full time and commuting to Salt Lake. Again wondering and worrying if actually getting to be a mom was in my cards. Today I have 2 clean, fed, napping girls, a clean house, and a heart so full of joy I'm almost in tears. Savana recited the whole first article of faith to me. Ate all of her lunch like a champ and went down for a nap like an angel. Annie slept all night. Has smiled at me at least 100 times flashing her beautiful little dimple and has not fussed, whined or cried all day and she is snoring a little bit in her sleep at this moment and I can't help but smile.
  Savana is such a little smarty pants. I used to question if she really listened to me, ever! But she shows me in so many ways that she understands, knows and remembers the things I teach her. One big help is the spirit in our house every day. I'm just so proud of my little 2 year old for knowing so much! She knows all the First Presidency, all the quorum of the 12 by face and name, along with the Book of Mormon prophets, most Bible prophets, her numbers, alphabet, LOTS of songs - she sings all day sometimes. She loves learning new songs. She got a microphone for Christmas and has been such the little Taylor Swift - singing songs, making up songs, talking to me in song. She is great. She has such a sweet voice and sounds just like an angel.

 Savana baking a pie with her grandma :)

 Annie was orange at first so we put her in the sunshine :)

 Christmas Eve jammies!

 Oh Santa got Savana the Rapunzel doll she wanted so badly.

 Geoff and Annie opening Christmas presents.

 Savana and her doll, and other presents from Santa. Clearly Rapunzel was very appreciated! Although for those of you know about Savana and Flynn Rider....A few minutes after she opened Rapunzel she looked at us and asked where Flynn was. Haha! Love her!

 My new picture

 1st time fishing with dad! (over the couch for Swedish fish)

 Her tent. We had a family camping night. Hotdogs and smores, fishing and tent making! SO FUN!

 Sweet cousins! Abby and Tessa! LOVE THEM!

 Annie's blessing day. January 8th. It was perfect.

 We were so glad Grandma and Jerry could come!

 Wonderful priesthood holders!

 Daddy Kiss!

 Best sister friends!

 My precious girls melt my heart!

 Annie will be 3 month old day after tomorrow. WOW how time flies! I can't even believe it. She is a great little eater and sleeper. She is quite the mommy's girl. I can't leave much, its too hard on her, she misses me. Some days I feel a little cooped up but I honestly don't mind it - I like it. I get to snuggle my girls all day! I do have some spring fever in that I really dislike cold weather. I love having my windows open for fresh air. I'm still crossing my fingers an amazing job opens up in St. George for Geoff and we can live in the sunshine :) I told Savana I had spring fever today and she said "I'm sorry you are sick mama!" (felt my forehead) and told me to drink plenty of fluids. Geoff and I both had a pretty good laugh. But spring will come and once again I will go on 3-4 walks a day to enjoy sunshine and fresh air. Savana loves going on walks. She tells me all sorts of things while we are out and about. I'm sure Annie will love it too :) For now we are snuggled under several blankets with warm clothes on and enjoying time together in our little home. Life is wonderful. Every minute!

My ooober cute baby girl!!

 I really want to show off my adorable Annie since not very many people have seen her because of this time of year she was born ( RSV season...). She just stays home. And I can't wait until March when I can take her out and show her off to people! But for now I am enjoying her all to myself at home. She has already grown so much. Time sure flies. She is almost 10 weeks now. She has had one night that she slept all night, the night before her blessing :) She is so sweet and perfect and I'm totally in love!! 

I sure love all the pictures my sweet sister-in-law Jenny took. Love her :)

 Annie has her daddy's crooked toe and I am obsessed with kissing it! SO cute!

 Pretty blue eyes!!

 I'm one happy mommy!

 Love her expressions!

 Soft baby skin...kissable!

Annie Kendall Loomis

Annie Kendall Loomis!

Born 11-3-11

6:47am 

6 lb 11 oz

Birth story:

11-2-11

Dinner: a few bites of a sandwich. I was starving but nothing would fit in my stomach...

Played with Savana instead of cleaning up dinner.  We played dolls for several hours. Thought how I really needed to clean my kitchen but thought it was better to enjoy playing with Savana before I got "busy with a baby." Glad I did.

Workout: My best friend, the treadmill, listening to Christmas music :) 

10:30ish: Put my head on my pillow and actually thought "Enjoy falling to sleep now when you will not have to get up a bunch to feed a baby..."

Maybe fell asleep....

11:30- A contraction woke me up and then..... I thought I peed my pants and ran to the bathroom. My water was leaking but it stopped so I was pretty sure I peed my pants and went back to bed. My whole pregnancy Geoff joked how if I peed my pants he would make so much fun of me and never let me live it down... I told him he could make fun of me in the morning but right then I was too mad to be made fun of. He was so asleep he already forgot I got up in the first place.

12:20 am (Nov 3) - thought I peed my pants again. After changing again.... I got out my computer and googled "Did my water break?" While looking online my contractions started and were 2-3 minutes apart. 40 minutes of contractions and at 1:00 I woke up Geoff and told him I was pretty sure his baby was about to be born. He asked what I wanted to do... I said " Um call your mom and have her come stay with Savana and GO TO THE HOSPITAL :)!!"

I did my dishes while I waited for my wonderful mom-in-law to get to our house. (I cant ever leave my house with dirty dishes, even if in labor... plus it helped keep me occupied so I did not just lay on the couch and cry.)

1:45- In the car I cried and told Geoff I did not want to push out a baby because it hurt so bad last time and I was not mentally prepared for it all...

2:00 am- we checked into the hospital. I'm pretty sure I asked the nurse 100 times if I was really going to stay because when my water was leaking with Savana they actually discharged us but never ended up leaving the room due to other symptoms...

I was at a 3 and having regular contractions and very very very nauseous. I had some medicine while I waited for my epidural :) It was really nice. Immediately I felt better. They now have flavored ice! I had both tigers blood and lime. YUMM! Then the contractions got worse and I was really glad I was getting an epidural. 

3:30ish I got my epidural

5:00ish - They put me on petocin for about an hour just to get the contractions stronger and I was still at a 3

My epidural felt like it was not working low on my right side... I rolled over and they checked me and bam...

6:20ish - I was an 8!

The doc came in and my room was all prepped... Little Annie was facing up so the doc said he would have to flip her and it was pushing time. One push and he flipped her around. The nurse said "Wow she has lots of dark hair!" I looked at Geoff in unbelief that they could actually see her because it took a half hour to get Savana out...second push and....

6:47- She was out! All covered in white goo.... lots of white goo. I guess they have lots of it when they come early :) I was a little grossed out but hey I'll take it for 2 less weeks of pregnancy :) Plus the nurse said she will have extra soft skin because of if. Who does not want  extra soft baby skin??? :)

I got to hold and snuggle and nurse for for quite a while. (Unlike with Savana I got to see her for just a minute and they whisked her away. Sad.)

I got all taken care of and got to my recovery room and I was totally surprised when I was not in loads of pain. (This was the worst part of having Savana, I cried for hours in really bad pain after my epidural wore off her.) I was pleasantly surprised I felt so good. I had breakfast and to hold and snuggle Annie a lot! We had visitors by about 10 am and I felt amazing for one having been up all night and two just having a baby. I had looots of milkshakes at the hospital- they are so delish! Anyone who wants to bring me a chocolate milkshake is more than welcome to :) (after I had Savana I craved Sprite... this time its chocolate milkshakes!!) Anyway..

I am still surprised at how smoothly and perfect things went. Annie was a little orange and we had to do several tests until her biliruben  came down. But we never had to do lights or anything. I still feel great and she is adorable, healthy and perfect. Savana is an amazing big sister and we are a happy family :)

*Thanks to everyone who has come to visit and bring us dinner and baby gifts :) We feel so SOSOSOSSOOO loved. 

 Happy dad!

 The Loomis Family!

 Aunt Katie

 My good friend Annie, meeting baby Annie.

 My baby Annie with her little best friend Pyper (my friend Annie's baby)

 

Annie and Pyper. We are so glad we got to see them while they were in town.