1st bottle

Daddy gave Dani her first bottle when she was 4 weeks old. I wanted to make sure we established good nursing before introducing the bottle. She took to it right away. She also had no problem switching back to mom for nursing. Derek was so anxious to help feed her! ♥

January 19th 2010

Baby girl has arrived!

My goodness.....I have been MIA!!!! My little baby girl is almost 2 months old and I have yet to post a thing about her. It's hard sneaking moments in the day to blog!

On December 19th, 2009 our lives changed for the better and will never be the same. God gave us the most precious gift. Our baby girl Danilynn. Love at first sight took on a whole new meaning. I feel truly blessed. My heart has never known so much love. ♥

On Monday December 14th I went in for my weekly appointment. I was 1 centimeter dilated/50% effaced and I was told that I had high blood pressure and that they wanted to watch it. My doctor said that if it didn't go down by Friday, they were going to induce me. It was what was best for the baby and myself. I was excited and nervous at the same time. Part of me really wanted to meet this little girl in my tummy so bad (I was 39 weeks along and still almost a week away from my due date) and part of me was disappointed that my body wasn't going to naturally go into labor on its own. They sent me over to the hospital for observation. I was a bit freaked out because the really didn't explain anything....just sent me to the hospital. I was at the hospital for most of the morning. Hooked up to bands to monitor my baby's heartbeat and monitor my blood pressure. They ran tests and what not. Baby was doing really good. They sent me home after a few hours and told me to get lots of rest. I was told to stop working and was put on modified bed rest. For the next couple of days I tried to rest, but also had so much left to do. I tried to get things in order in case we were going to be having a baby on Friday! I was so tired, I couldn't get much done. I did manage to freeze some meals. Thank goodness!! On Wednesday December 17th I thought possibly that my water had broke and I was feeling some sporadic "labor pains". It was about 11:00 at night and we headed to the ER. Turns out it was false labor, I was still only 1 cm dilated and my water did not break. We were sent home. The next day Derek's aunt came to get the dogs just in case we were going to be induced on Friday. That way we didn't have to worry about them and she could keep them for a couple of weeks so we could adjust to life with a new baby at home. Just when Denise and Paige headed out the door to go home, I started feeling contractions. This time it was real. They were more regular and started coming 13 minutes apart. All night I kept track of how long it was between each contraction. 13.....9.....7 minutes. It was a long night and I got no sleep at all. Every contraction woke me up. Friday morning rolled around and we headed out the door to my appointment. As we drove there I felt like my water broke...again! Contractions we still coming about 5 minutes apart. My doctors office and the hospital were literally across the street from each other, so we had to decide to continue to our appointment or go to the hospital. We decided on the doctors office just in case my water did NOT break. That would be embarrassing, again! I had 3 contractions sitting in the room waiting for the doctor to come in. She checked me and said "You are in labor, you are going to have a baby". I was 4 cm dilated and 100% effaced!!! Holy cow! Derek and I just looked at each other with shock. We of course were sent right over to the hospital.

We were really having our baby and my body did it all on it's own! Crazy that we were going to be induced that day! Once in the hospital I tried to hold out as long as possible before I got an epidural. Eventually the contractions were too much for me to handle. Getting the epidural was pretty scary. I was SO nervous. But once it was all over, I felt so good. :) Around 9 pm the nurse came in and said I was 10 cm and was ready to start pushing. This was it. It was really happening. I was scared and happy all at once. We had waited 10 months for this moment and now it was here. The nurse and Derek helped me push. We tried all different positions until I found the right one for me that gave me the most strength behind my pushes. I was having a real hard time pushing her past my pubic bone. I just couldn't get her to budge. She was also facing sideways so doctor helped turn her the right way. I pushed for about 2 hours until I finally was able to get her past my pubic bone. After that, my body naturally wanted to push her the rest of the way out with every contraction. Just then the nurse said to stop pushing because the was no doctor available to deliver her. My doctor (the only doctor on staff) was in an emergency. The nurse helped me breath to fight back each contraction. Derek did an awesome job of helping me too, but I could tell he was really freaked out at this point. I fought through contractions for 30-45 minutes. This was the hardest and most scariest moment of this whole experience. My epidural was wearing off and the contractions hurt so bad. I didn't know how I was going to "hold" her in until the doctor could come. The nurse said if I just couldn't fight the contractions and needed to push her out, she could "catch" my baby, but if I could just try hang in there a bit longer. I was not only scared for me (all I could picture was the nurse not knowing how to properly deliver a baby and my body tearing beyond belief), but more so for my baby. I didn't want a nurse to catch her. What if something was wrong with her?! Get the doctor here F*#%-ing NOW PEOPLE!! At this point I was so scared and pissed off! I tried so hard to be nice to the nurse, it wasn't her fault. I had to apologize for cussing a few times. FINALLY the doctor walked in just when I thought I could hold off any longer. I cried. I was so happy and relieved to see him. You don't even know!

A couple more pushes and my baby girl entered this world. When they laid her on my stomach, I was in shock. Immediately I asked if she was ok....she wasn't crying and looked like she wasn't breathing. She looked blue-ish purple. Then she cried. I couldn't believe that I actually made this little person. It was the most amazing moment. Words can't even fully explain. She was healthy and that was all that mattered.

My labor was 30 hours long from start to finish.

I would do it all over again for her in a ♥ beat.

Danilynn Taylor Norton

December 19th, 2009....12:26 am....8 lbs. 1 oz.....20 1/4 inches long

♥

37 weeks

This week marks our 37th week. We are now officially full term! Danilynn could make her appearance any day now. Of course I hope she still continues to bake just a bit longer and daddy is ready for her now. We only have 3 weeks left until our due date. I can't believe how fast this time went. Seems like only yesterday we were beaming with the news and now we are on the countdown to having this little girl in our arms. We can't wait to meet you little one! ♥

Happy Thanksgiving!

today i am thankful for.....

this baby girl growing inside of me ♥

my wonderful husband who puts up with my emotional preggo self

our supportive familes

this cream-cheese-bacon crescent roll i'm eating right now

the best next door neighbors we could ask for

my ever so loving puppy dogs

our grumpy cat who greets me when i come home

my crafty friends

even my not so crafty friends ;o)

being healthy and happy

getting together with family later today

Although it feels like we skipped fall here lately and went right to winter....

fall makes me smile.

pumpkins

lazy weekends

hot apple cider

halloween candy :) shhhh

spicy scented candle filling the house

cooler crisp days

the leaves turning

the thought of the holidays right around the corner

baking....baking....baking

pumpkin spice lattes

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our 1 year anniversary!

I can't believe how quick this year has gone by. It feels like only yesterday we said I do. And here we are today, 7 months preggo....waiting on our little bun in the oven to get done cooking and make us a happy little family of 3.

♥

"It doesn't matter how much love you have in the beginning...

It's about how much love you build til the end".

Quintin is here!

Last Friday our friends and next door neighbors, Ben and Heather

welcomed their sweet baby boy into this world.

Quintin Castle Gifford

7lbs 19in

♥

Congratulations Ben and Heather!!

Lazy Sunday's

yesterday was one of those days

we didn't get out of our pj's

it was fall like weather (loved it!)

hung out on the couch and watched tv all day

made brownies....mmm

baby girl was the most active she has ever been

daddy got to feel her kick for the first time!!

made a cheesy chicken pot pie for dinner

just plain relaxed all day

it.was.a.good.day

♥

♥ It's a girl ♥

Last Friday on August 7th we found out that this little bean growing inside me is a girl! This day also happened to be Derek's 29th birthday. Such a fun day. This was the most anticipated and fun appointment that we ever had. It was so fun seeing this little girl moving around on the screen. This was my 20 week appointment and my how she has grown from the last time we saw her on the big screen at 9 weeks. It was amazing. My most favorite and memorable moment was when the technician told us that "he" (as Derek was calling it) was actually a girl. I will never forget his face. I looked at him at just the right moment. I busted out laughing and into tears. It was a really joyful moment. I had been thinking that we were going to have a boy. All my thoughts would always go to boys first. Names, bedding, clothes, etc. Derek was certain that we were going to have a girl. I know he is super nervous at the thought of having a little girl. He is already talking about chasing off the boys. But I just know that he is going to do so good with a little girl. It's good for him. She will be such a daddy's girl....I just know it. I just hope she wants to be my baking/cooking buddy.

And to start her off right......I made cupcakes that Sunday to take into work to share the good news. Here is how they turned out. Pretty cute I think. :o)

Can't wait to meet you our sweet baby girl. ♥

Something is different....

I am literally laughing out loud as I write this. Last night I made my famous White Green Chile Chicken. It seemed a little different to me....but didn't think too much of it. Tonight we had some of leftovers for dinner. This time Derek said that something seemed different.....like it was missing something. I told him that I noticed the same thing the night before....but couldn't think of why. What could it be? I followed the same recipe that I do time and time again. It was bugging me what was so different....what the heck was missing. Then I looked in the pantry and there sat on the shelf the staring role of this dish.......

Hello!! I forgot the damn green chilies...that go in the GREEN CHILE!!! All I can do is laugh and blame it...once again....on my baby brain. Heehee

Busy...busy little bee

So I am officially terrible at taking pictures to blog about. My weekend was filled with little projects that I intended on taking before and after pictures. That did not happen. I am so forgetful sometimes! Grrrrr Oh well. What do you do. Maybe next time.....just maybe....

Saturday I finally got around to painting some of the cabinet doors that we left off in the kitchen. Although it was almost a 6 hour task.....I had the company of my friend and next door neighbor Heather. She came over and painted a diaper changing table for her soon-to-be-here little baby boys room. By the end I think we were both over our little projects. Later on I hung the doors back up in the kitchen. They look nice....but it will take a while for us to get used to the look. Since we have moved in we had open shelving. It helped make our tiny little kitchen look bigger. Lately I have just been getting annoyed with this look. Although the dishes are never dusty (well maybe the wine and margarita glass that haven't been touched because of my blossoming belly) because they are used daily....the shelves do get dusty. And I had this magazine perfect....picturesque idea in my mind of the open shelving look....and that it so not what is going on. It's best left behind closed doors.

In between drying times of the kitchen cabinet doors, I spray painted a bunch of picture frames that I picked up at goodwill....black. I hope to get around here soon to hang up a bunch of family photos in our hallway and the walls going up the stairs to our office/craft room. I am SO excited to get to this project. Our spare bedroom (soon to be baby's room) has stacks and stacks of picture frames just waiting for a home on the wall. I think that it will look really good in the end.

Then on Sunday hubby started sanding down the dresser I got a while back to use as a changing table. I'm excited to start on this as well. It was a cute blue color....but we are going to paint it a distressed off white to match the other dresser that will be in the baby's room. I must have had some more painting to get out of my system because I had a crazy idea to paint the inside of the upper cabinets that are above our stove and refrigerator. These cabinets are open shelving and will stay that way. I have mostly all of our white entertaining dishes up there. It looks really nice, but a bit boring as the cabinets are also white in color. So I had Derek drag up the left over paint from the dining room accent wall. It's a rusty barn red color. I love the color and how it turned out.....I just don't like how the quality of work turned out. First off the paint....I really should have gotten a fresh can of this color. It seemed like the paint had separated....but I was determined to use it anyways. That was my first mistake. My second mistake was......what was I thinking? The cabinets are so high. I had to use a ladder and reach across and up high. It was not very comfortable. But once I started....I had to finish. There was no going back. And third, I don't know if it was the paint or my impatience, but when I went to peel off the painters tape....it was peeling the paint off with it......BADLY. The paint was so stretchy. It was awful in spots. But I am so over this crazy little project....it may just stay that way. Unless I can convince Derek to fix it for me. It's really going to bother me....but at this point sadly I don't care. It was so hard doing this in the first place. What the heck was I thinking!!??

My next project I want to start on this week.....is turning an old window into a magnetic chalkboard. I was going to start this one this past weekend.....but the barn red interior cabinets got the best of me. So since I haven't started this one yet....maybe I will remember to take before and after pictures. :o)

S'mores anyone?

This past Sunday I made cupcakes for my good friend Heather's baby shower. Her theme on the invites was camping. The shower theme was BB-Q/Picnic. I found the most perfect cupcake recipe.....S'mores!!! Complete with marshmallow frosting, graham cracker crumbs and a mini Hersey bar. These little babies turned out great if I do say so myself. :o)

17 weeks and counting....

Today I had my 17 week appointment with my doctor. All is good and coming along just as it should be. The heartbeat was strong...150(something) bpm. I can't for the life of me remember what it was exactly. I will blame that on my "baby brain". My tummy measured right at 17 weeks. My weight is good. I am up 11 lbs. from when I started, but hadn't gained any since my last appointment 4 weeks ago. What no weight gain after eating Grandma Norton's food during the 4th of July holiday?? Ok....if you say so. Hahaha It was a pretty quick and easy appointment.

The best part is......in just 3 weeks we will get to find out just what this little baby bean is! I can hardly wait. The anticipation is killing the both of us. We are just so excited to find out. Derek of course wants a hunting buddy and I want a little baker. Really I (we) would be happy with either. Just as long as it's healthy and happy! Our appointment is scheduled on Derek's birthday. What a fun day this will be! :o)

Any guesses as to what we are having?

Oh baby!

The last week of April Derek and I found out that we were pregnant! Such a surprise!! I can not even explain the shock and excitement we felt. Our due date is December 22nd, 2009. What?! My brother's birthday?! A Christmas baby! Oh my goodness. Not the most ideal time of the year to have a baby. I always knew December was not a month that I wanted to have a baby. Growing up, my brother's birthday was 12/22. I just remember my mom making such a big deal and getting so mad sometimes when family gave my brother a Christmas/Birthday gift. When everyone else clearly gets two separate gifts. It does suck sometimes, but I get it. Everyone is hard up in December around the holidays. I have actually been known to do the same thing to him a time or two and mom was furious with me. Hey, I couldn't help it. I try really hard not to do that. But what can I say. And even today I feel bad for him sometimes. Seems like the last couple of years that we have tried to get together for his birthday dinner....it has been so snowy that we had to put it off for weeks it seems like. Not the end of the world, just a bummer.

But I have decided that I am not going to fret about it anymore. It is what it is. All we can do is make the best of it while our little one is growing up. We will just have to be creative when planning a winter birthday party. Family/friends may give him or her a Merry Christmas/Happy Birthday gift. Oh well. Christmas time is one of my most favorite times of the year. And now we will add to that joy with an addition to our little family. Thinking ahead he/she will most likely be off from school on winter break. How fun will that be to spend some time baking...playing in the snow...decorating the tree...and planning a birthday?! Sounds like fun to me! :o)

The second to last week of May we went in to have an ultrasound to figure out just how far along I was. I wasn't exactly sure of all the dates, so we needed to make sure of things. The baby measured out just as predicted. I was in my 9th week. Things looked good and were coming along all as planned. Derek went with me and we both stood there (well I laid on the table) in shock when we saw the first images of our little bean. We could clearly see the arms/legs/head and even the little teeny tiny nose. So amazing since this little baby was only the size of a green olive! We could see it moving it's head, legs and arms. So crazy! That was a really fun first time experience. I know I will never ever forget the feeling that came over me when I saw this tiny little being that we created growing inside me and moving. Life is so amazing.

This past Monday at our doctor's appointment we were able to hear the heart beat for the first time! At the last appointment the baby was too small to be able to hear it. Wow! That is a pretty cool experience too. Another one I won't ever forget. I think the most fun of all of this is seeing Derek's reaction. He is so excited and blown away each time we go into the doctor's office. It's really cute to watch him in amazement. He is such a cute daddy to be.

This is what I laid out on the table for Derek to see when he came home. It took everything in me to keep it a secert from that day. I could hardly stand it. :o)

A little something sweet- Nellie

A few weeks ago, I posted a 1st Five Goodie Giveaway; the first 5 to respond would get something made by me as long as they paid the gift forward by offering a 1st five on their blog and so on... just a way of a sharing our love of paper crafting and making friends. :o)

I made these little note cards with matching envelopes for Nellie over at This Little Blog of Mine, one of the 1st 5 to leave me a comment.

Aren't they darling? :o)

Fast and the Furriest

Run to Save an Animal’s Life!

This Saturday April, 18th is the 6th annual Fast and the Furriest 5k race. My company sponsors this event and this year I will be volunteering and working our booth. I plan on bringing my little helper Ellie. She loves to help her momma and LOVES to see all her furry friends. If you don't have anything going on, on Saturday......please come by our HESKA booth and say "hi". Bring your pooches!! You don't have to actually run the race to come out and enjoy the festivities. We are giving out some cool balls this year. I haven't seen the colors yet, but what dog doesn't love to a chase a ball. Mine sure do!

Race day features a fantastic doggie/runner expo, a fast new course, live music, lots of race day give-aways, doggie demo's, and the best raffle in town!

Each and every runner that participates in the Fast and the Furriest 5K/1K race helps raise money for the Companion Care Fund. The Companion Care Fund offers financial assistance to clients of Colorado State University’s Veterinary Medical Center who have an animal in need of emergency or immediate life-saving care. The fund is entirely need-based and is reserved solely for members of the community. Additionally, the fund may be applied to any animal presented to the hospital, including companion animals, exotic species, large animals, and small ruminants. Without the financial assistance provided by the fund, many clients would be faced with the difficult choice of declining care for their animal or relinquishing ownership.

The Companion Care Fund provides hope for both owners and their animals in need. The Fast and the Furriest raised $10,000 for the Companion Care Fund in 2007, and with your support we can raise even more!

To donate directly to the Companion Care Fund online please visit: https://advancing.colostate.edu/CVMBS/COMPANIONCARE

When: Saturday, April 18th, 2009
7:30 am: Packet pick-up and race day registration

9:00 am: 5K Run/Walk

10:00 am: 1K Kid's Fun Run

10:30 am: Awards and Raffle Drawing

8:00 am-12:00 pm: Runner/doggie Expo!

Where: Colorado State University.~Due to ongoing construction at the Veterinary Medical Center, we have moved the course this year to main campus. The race will start on Isotope Dr., just off of the south end of the oval. The oval is located on the northeast corner of campus off of Laurel St, west of Shields. Parking is available in any of the surrounding lots on campus.

Entry Fees:
Prior to April 17: $22 for adults, $20 with student ID, $10 for kids 12 and under, kids under 6 are free!
Race Day: $25 per participant

Paper candy bowl- Brandy

A few weeks ago, I posted a 1st Five Goodie Giveaway; the first 5 to respond would get something made by me as long as they paid the gift forward by offering a 1st five on their blog and so on... just a way of a sharing our love of paper crafting and making friends. :o)

I made this paper candy bowl for Brandy, one of the 1st 5 to leave me a comment. I got this idea from Rachel over at wonderfully whimsy. I think this little bowl has to be one of my favs. It's so stinkin cute! I filled it with some candy and it's sitting out on Brandy's desk at work. Just darling...don't you think?!

Easter Menu

This year Derek and I are hosting Easter dinner at our house. This will be our first hosted dinner as a married couple. Awwww :o) I am pretty excited. Here is my menu:

-Cornish game hens

-Asparagus with homemade hollandaise sauce

-Twice baked potatoes

-Hawaiian rolls

-Deviled eggs

-Deviled eggs with crab

-Not yo' mama's banana pudding (This is Paula Deen's recipe. She uses pepperidge farm chessmen cookies instead of vanilla wafers. I have heard it is pretty darn good. Haven't made it myself yet, so I will have to let you know how it turns out.)

So that's it. Pretty simple and low key. Sometimes simple is better.

New recipe

My friend Annie at work gave me a new recipe to try. OMG it was fabulous!! If you are looking for something new and different....you should give this a try.

-cooked ravioli or tortellini tossed with pesto sauce
-add marinated artichoke hearts, split
-sun dried tomato pieces
-pine nuts
-kalamata olives sliced
-chopped fresh basil
-parmesan grated over the whole thing

Serve it warm with French bread and call it dinner. There are no measurements, you just do what ever feels right to you. Yes, shocking isn't Carrie? Carrie knows how I MUST have measurements for everything. I rarely wing it. Haha

It really is good. Derek even liked it! But he didn't have the olives or the sun dried tomatoes. (Ugh....I hate when I forget to take a picture!! Oh well)