Yes, we made it! How we traveled across the country for the first time.

It has been a while since I shared my deep anxieties about traveling with my adorable, yet temperamental eight month old.  So, I thought I would give you a few of the highlights from our travels to and from the beach.  A better, longer vacation post will be coming sometime soon, hopefully.

Flying

This is how we fly. Sometimes.

Y'all this kid was amazing!  He was on a total of four flights and he did not have a melt down on any of them!  He slept on all of them, and was asleep the entire time for two whole flights!  I was shocked.  I was really worried about feeding him on the plane, but that came easy too.  Brecken loves books and sat and listened to us read to him for about 30-45 minutes on his first flight.  He was playful and a little loud at times (as all babies are).  I never got any dirty looks (that I noticed) and all the flight attendants were pretty much smitten by him.  Who wouldn't be?! His ears?  Well, on every take off or landing he was either asleep or he just sucked his thumb.  No screaming for this kid.

Sleeping the whole way from Chicago to Raleigh!

Sorry, Mom...no carrier!

I will say this:  the baby carrier was only successful about 50% of the time.  I'm thinking next trip we will just take the stroller and put the carrier in the suitcase.  He is heavy (23 pounds) and I about died toting him around the airports when he refused the carrier.

Also, security was very kind and understanding.  I was told in a nice way what I could do with him (they let you walk straight through with a carrier on) and his milk, food, etc.  No worries on that end either!

It helped a ton that I had my husband on the way there and my mom on the way back to help me, but I really do think I could take him solo now.  Who would have thought?!  Not me.



Driving

My son has hated being in the car for his entire life.  When he was a newborn he would scream just being put in the car seat.  Now, he has been much better lately, but not great.  When we landed in Raleigh we had to drive about three hours to get to the beach.  PERFECT ride.  Well, minus the roadside blowout pictured below.  He didn't cry and he even entertained himself and giggled the majority of the way.

Roadside blow out...CHECK.

He had to take another trip to and from the airport (6 hours) to drop my husband off.  Again, no tears. He would sleep, play, etc. We stopped a couple of times to feed him, change him, but that was it.

Riding, a lot. 

My Mom and I took him from the beach to her house (10 hours split into two days).  I was terrified we would be stopping all the time because we were cramped and he would have no one to sit with him in the back.  Basically he played with toys, took a nap, we stopped to eat/change him, repeat.  He was so good!  Sometimes I would play a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode for him, but mostly he just kept himself entertained.  Can I just say that Micky Mouse Clubhouse has saved my sanity since he was about two months old.  It was the only way I could take a shower, make dinner, or just have a few minutes of not holding him.  Now, he loves it and will watch one episode a day so I can get a few extra things done.  Normally it is when I get dinner ready.

So I know that no child is perfect, but I was so impressed with Brecken being flexible on this trip.  He slept in a pack and play in three different places.  He napped pretty well.  We did have to spend hours in an urgent care because of some virus he had and teething wasn't all that fun.  All in all, it was not quite a vacation, but certainly not the trip I was expecting either.

Pure joy.

Here are a few adorable beach pictures because who doesn't love a chubby little baby at the beach? He LOVED the water.  He ate the sand (much to my dismay).  We went on many walks up and down the beach to take naps.  It was pretty much perfect.  More on that later.

Really? Another picture.  YES.

Mommy Style Monday: Diaper Bag Essentials

Ok y'all I am so excited to be joining a group of fantastic ladies in sharing some of our favorite things, styles, etc. I love reading about what works for other moms. This week we are sharing our diaper bag essentials. Everyone needs a diaper bag, or some sort of bag, when you take your baby out. I absolutely LOVE mine and am excited to share it with you! I am not sharing my wipes, diapers, and first aid necessities, but all those other must haves I keep with me. Enjoy!

Let me just start out by saying that I have carried Vera Bradley bags and luggage since I was about fourteen. That is half of my life! Every southern gal knows Vera is amazing. They are durable, easy to clean, and adorable! They add at least four new patterns each season and they have a bag for pretty much anything. So go check out what they have for you! 

This adorable pattern is called Flower Shower.

My hands are free to love on this kid! 

My first essential I want to share is my diaper bag!  Vera carries a few different styles.  I knew I wanted one and I also knew I wanted a backpack. If I had to take Brecken out alone, I wanted to be able to carry him (car seats are dang heavy!) and a backpack would make it easier. Now, I wasn't able to find my exact backpack on Vera's site, but they do sell them in other patterns. It is super cute and very lightweight.  

I love how much room there is and the organizational pockets

Perfect changing station!

The inside is all plastic so you can easily wipe away any spills. There is a large compartment with four mesh pockets, a smaller compartment that has a fold out changing pad and two mesh pockets, and the front pocket has a magnetic button. Also there are two side pockets perfect for a bottle or a drink for Mom. Now I am going to show you how I organize everything that Brecken needs on our adventures away from home. 

The Essentials: 

Most important thing in my bag is my covered goods nursing cover.  I had a few different ones and then my amazing sister-in-law showed me hers and I knew I had to have it.  It actually keeps you and the baby covered at all times while nursing!  It can also be used as a cover in a high chair, shopping cart, or over the car seat. I also love how soft it is and that it can be easily rolled up.

Next, a blanket.  Right now we are hitting our stride (finally) with warmer weather.  I usually take a blanket in case he wants to get down and play, especially at church.  This is a light muslin blanket. In colder weather I usually grab something a little thicker in case he needs to be covered more in the car seat.

Next up:  toys.  Until the last few months, they were pretty much pointless in my bag.  They might keep his attention for a few minutes and then be thrown to the side.  Brecken is at such a fun age where he will play and interact with toys.

His favorite toy is the VTech Musical Rhymes book that sings nursery rhymes and has some other interactive buttons and noise makers.  It is the only thing that he will look at sometimes, during church or at a restaurant.  Even without the sound on, he loves it!

The other noisy toy he has is a rainmaker shaker.  It has colors, movement, and sound which are basically his three favorite things.

The other toys I keep are what I call "chewies" (obviously not a real word). I bought both of these for Christmas and they have been life savers in the car and as he has started teething.  The rings come in a big set with many colors and we have a few in the diaper bag and a few at home.  He loves to chew on them and rip them apart.  The other favorite is Sophie the giraffe which is a great teether and has a little squeaker that Brecken loves.

Lastly, I always keep a small board book or two in the bag.  I'm a teacher, what do you expect?  Right now, he loves anything by the amazing Eric Carle.

I use my mesh compartments to roll up my burp cloth, nursing cover, and blanket.  Extra clothes are at the bottom and then the toys fill in the rest of the middle.  With all those things, there is still plenty of room to add more.  Sometimes I have a jacket in there too.  Best part is that it is so light carrying it on my back.  

My middle compartment organizes the perfect changing station with wipes, diapers, and the changing mat (now folded).  It has two snap buttons that keep it attached to the plastic front, if you want it to.

The very front pocket is perfect for my wallet, keys, and travel size hand sanitizer.  

Please check out these amazing diaper bag essentials from other moms: 

Kiana at Glitter & Donuts

Madeline at Casey Land

Kahana at A Beautiful Life

Monica it It's All About

Jen at Jam Tart Boutique

Chelsea at Tessa Marie

Lauren at The Andrew Life

If you would like to join in on Mommy Style Monday please get in touch with Kiana at Glitter & Donuts or 

Madeline at Casey Land

Packing for our family vacation . . . I mean trip!

A while back I read a hilarious blog about how when you take your kids with you it is no longer a vacation, it is a trip.  While packing the insane amount of things for our family trip to Myrtle Beach this week I started to see what she meant.

I get anxious and nervous about flying in general because of security, luggage and trying to check in immediately on South West so you can get on the plane and actually sit with your husband (seriously, one time we had to separate for four hours, it was the worst flight ever).  Add an eight month old who has never flown and who also decided that this week was the week to go ahead and cut three more teeth AT THE SAME TIME! We are in for quite the adventure on Saturday morning.

I remember the days of packing my little bag of swim suits, several outfit options, technology, and a neck pillow to sleep on the plane with.  HA!  Seriously y'all, I don't even have swim suit tops this year in my suitcase.  Thank you to my little sister who will let me borrow because I didn't have time to go and find any that actually fit my nursing mom body, if you know what I mean! Every inch of space that I can cram with books, toys, and anything else that will keep my child entertained is being used.  Sleep on the plane. . . as long as Brecken sleeps I could care less what I do.

I'm sure that sounded insane and completely overwhelmed.  I really am fine.  Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who can help me tag team if need be.  Brecken isn't a terrible teether, and I just hope he loves the fly on airplanes as much as I did as a baby and child.  Once we get to the beach I will be able to relax...maybe?...hopefully?

I will keep you posted on this vacation trip!  Hooray for summer!

Isn't he the cutest little helper? 

How Lauren met Brandon

I get asked all the time how I met my husband.  To be completely honest, when I tell it, it comes out like a Hallmark movie.  You know the ones where everything is cookie cutter and there is really no problems along the way.  Decide for yourself...

Our first picture.  Of course it was taken at the Swamp!

Up until 2012 my so-called dating life had pretty much been nonexistent.  Seriously, I went on one date during my high school and college years.  I was pretty much done with trying and content with it.  You know how that goes....once you quit trying, it happens for you.  That was me.

Fort Walton Beach 

In April 2012, Brandon and I started talking to each other on the phone because he was living out west and I was living in Florida.  Long story short, we had mutual friends who suggested we get to know each other.  Brandon had served his mission in south Florida and claimed he had been planning to come out and visit over the summer.  As we got to know each other, we were able to talk about anything, everything, and nothing, all before we even met face to face.  Weird, right? Well, one night I got up the nerve to ask him to come to Florida and it happened very quickly after that!  He came to Gainesville for a week and we visited his mission friend in the pan handle during that time too.  It was a whirlwind, but we were connected very quickly!

Summer Love: My trip to Utah in June

After he left Florida I was pretty devastated and completely unsure of how things would work out, but I did know that I was willing to do whatever it would take to try.  Hello moving out west.  Anyway, I came out to visit him in June and things were still really great so we decided to take our decision to the Lord and figure out who should move where.  Well, I was going to be finished with my grad program at UF in August and so I was pretty open to options.  When we finally got our answer, much to my dismay, it was that I should head out west and we could take it from there.  Great, an answer.  Only, I had no job and no apartment to live in.  I had also been offered two great jobs, one in NC and the other in Florida, that I turned down.

Wedding Duties. 

In July I headed back out to attend a wedding and hopefully find a place to live.  I had been applying to school districts within a two hour radius of where Brandon lived just praying to find something.  Nope.  Nothing.  The only thing I could do was be a substitute teacher and hope that would lead me to a full-time job eventually.  Well, the week of the wedding I got a phone call from a district in the town he lived in!  I was hired and found an apartment within just a few days.  Prayers are answered y'all!  I headed back to Florida to graduate and move.


 Sidebar: anyone who has ever taught knows that the first year is insane and you need a whole summer to get your classroom together.  Well, I was hired on August 3rd and I had to start contract days on August 12th.  I didn't arrive in town until the 11th.  It was basically a hot mess those days, but somehow I was ready for day one.

Back to our story.  August came and I moved out to good old Utah.  It only took about two days of living here before we exchanged the 'L-word' (LOVE).  Soon we were discussing the possibility of marriage and when we would probably try to have our wedding.  I HATE to be cold people so you know I must love this man if I was willing to have a December wedding in the middle of the frozen tundra!  We had to do it then because it would give me two weeks of winter break to have the wedding, honeymoon, and open house back in NC.

Right before he popped the question

September 27th, Brandon took me on a big scavenger hunt and proposed on a hill side in Logan, with the temple in plain view.  It was beautiful and perfect; although he did have the ring box upside down as he asked me -- something we still laugh about.  We were SO excited!  So, December 22nd was in our sights and we only had a short amount of time to take care of all the planning.  Add that to a first year teaching schedule and I basically did not sleep for the next three months.

Engagement Pictures

The start of forever 

We got married on December 22nd at the Brigham City Temple for time and all eternity.  The ceremony was beautiful and thankfully the weather wasn't terribly cold.  We loved our day, even though our reception site had no heat and our catering company was HORRIBLE.  I won't mention names, but if you ever need a Cache Valley caterer I will tell you who not to use.  The best part was that it was the start of our life together.  I hate when it's all a big fuss about a day, when really it is every day after that that counts and matters most.

I left out a lot of the details, but what is important is that I met the man of my dreams and we are together forever on this journey.

That is how Lauren met Brandon.

Brecken

October 4th, 2015

3:30 am  I woke up with a contraction that felt stronger than the random few I had in the days/weeks leading up to this day.  I didn't think much of it and tried to fall back asleep.  Within ten minutes another one came and I felt sort of sick to my stomach.  I spent the next thirty-forty minutes getting up and going to the bathroom each time I felt a contraction.  They were probably 10 minutes apart at this point. 

4:30 am  I told Brandon he should probably go do his chores and try to come home early because we would need to go to the hospital.  In my mind I didn't think we would need to be heading that way until at least 9 or 10 because labor progresses so slowly.  I decided to get in the shower because I couldn't sleep, and as I did I noticed I was having more contractions and they were getting a little more intense.  It took me almost an hour and a half to shower, get dressed, and dry my hair.  I was having contractions about 5 minutes apart and I didn't think that could be right so I started timing them.  

7:00 am  After timing my contractions and realizing that they were about 3 minutes apart, I called Brandon and told him to try and get home as soon as possible.  I also went and woke up my Mom and told her that we were going to the hospital.  I tried to get the rest of my bag packed, but I had to stop quite often for contractions.  

7:30 am  Brandon got home and Mom decided to follow behind us in her car.  I only ate a little yogurt because I felt gross and just wanted to get to the hospital.  

8:00 am Not exactly at 8, but close enough, we arrived at Logan Regional Hospital and started in to the 3rd floor.  I stopped three times for contractions before we made it to the check-in window.  After we got into our room, I dressed in the beautiful hospital gown and laid down.  They put in an IV and set up heart monitors on the baby and a contraction monitor on me.  I then got checked by my nurse, Aubree, and she said I was at a 6.  I was shocked!  I knew I was progressing, but that was really fast.  She asked me if I wanted an epidural and I said yes.  Brandon and I talked for a few minutes and he held my hand during contractions because they were pretty strong.  I had to get some fluids in me before the drugs, so we waited about 20 or so minutes. 

9:00 am  The anesthesiologist came in and very carefully gave me the epidural.  I actually did not feel anything except the small pricks that put in my back to numb the area.  I didn't even know he was finished until he told me to lay back down on the bed.  Within 30 minutes I was completely numb and felt great.  My nurse said to rest, so I tried.  

By 10:00 the doctor (mine was out of town) said that they should try to break my water.  Dr. Flansburg came in to do that, when she checked me I was at an 8 and she said my water was already broken!  I actually think it had started leaking a day or so prior, but I just thought it was fluid.  I was happy they didn't have to break it. My nurse said we should check me again in about an hour to see if I was complete.  I tried to rest my eyes while Brandon went to get some breakfast, but I couldn't fall asleep from the excitement I felt and the noise of the hospital.  When Mom brought him his food she came in the room and we all just talked and shared what we thought the baby was going to look like, weigh, etc.  I said that I thought he would be 8 pounds 3 oz, which turned out to be right on.  

At 11:00 the nurse came in and she checked me again.  She said I was completely dilated and we just had to wait an hour and then we could start pushing.  The whole process up to this point had been pretty seamless and I was only a little anxious about the pushing part.  The fact that I could not feel anything was making me feel confident about the rest of labor.  

At 12:00 Aubree came in and said we were going to start to push.  Mom left and Brandon and I got ready.  At the hospital they require that you push for 2 hours before the doctor can come in and assist you.  Because he was so low, she didn't think it would take very long to get him out.  As I started pushing I felt good and excited.  After an hour of pushing, she said that his head was struggling to come down through the pubic bone and she wasn't sure if I could get him out myself.  We kept pushing to no avail, and after two hours the doctor was called in.  If I couldn't get him out with the aide of the doctor then we would have to do a c-section.  Brandon and I both knew we didn't want that.  Dr. Horseley came in and told me that the baby's head needed to be turned and that with forceps we could try to push him out.  If that didn't work, then c-section it would be.  He said he wasn't sure if my little body could do it and I would have to push really hard.  Well, I did.  We pushed for about 30 more minutes.

3:03 pm  Brecken Todd Andrew was brought into this world with the help of forceps.  I felt his body leave mine and sort of just sighed in relief, excitement, joy, and exhaustion.  Brandon was in tears and we both were in love with this little boy covered in goo.  They put him on me and wiped him with towels.  Brandon took some photos, they got is weight, etc.  He had a terrible wound on his head and marks from the forceps on his face.  He was pretty swollen but perfect nonetheless.  He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.  The doctor told me that my body was fine, normal stuff as far as damage.  He told me I was a champion and he didn't think I would be able to do it because of how little I was.  

All I knew was that he finally made it and he was healthy.  Brandon and I took some pictures with him and I held that baby close to me.  Brandon held him.  We did some skin to skin care and I tried to get him to latch on to eat.  He struggled with it, as all babies do.  When all the nurses and doctor left, we talked about his name.  Brecken Todd was what we had thought he would be, but it was confirmed.  He had tons of dark hair (which shocked me) and his face was shaped like mine with my chin.  Everything else looked like Andrew/Brandon.  After about an hour they wheeled us up to the 3rd floor.  Mom was in the waiting room and could hear him being born and she went upstairs with us.  We let immediate family know he was here and we just relaxed in our room.  Holding him was so sweet and the nurses were kind to us. 

The only visitors we had that day were immediate family.  It was actually the September birthday dinner at Ted and Kayleen's, so everyone was able to come at once.  Brecken didn't sleep at all until about 9:00 that night.  He was up and aware of everything going on.  The nurses took him for his checks and he got a passy because of his poor headache.  We got help from the nursery so we could get some sleep too.  

Most of the evening was a blur because I was completely exhausted.  I remember eating some Wendy's and waiting as long as possible to go to the bathroom (traumatic experience).  

Life has truly changed.  Brandon gave me a beautiful blessing today, reminding me to pray continually and to know that the Lord trusts me.  I was also blessed with love.  I hope that throughout this time I can rely on the Lord and allow others I trust and love to help me.  What a glorious, crazy time of our lives.  I am so happy and yet so overwhelmed by many other emotions.  I want to be the best mother to this little boy that I can.  I hope that in doing so, I can raise him to be the man the Lord intends for him to be.  

The Andrew Life

Confession: I have had this blog set up for about three years and am just now writing my first post. I would like to say it's because I am so busy, but really I'm just a little nervous to throw all my thoughts and opinions out there on the Internet. 

I want to share a little information about me and then I will be posting some older journal entries about how I met my husband, our son's birth story, etc.   I have also joined a good friend of mine in posting about Mommy Style which will be done every other Monday, starting June 6th for any of you who enjoy seeing what other moms do and use. I know I do!  

This is mostly just for me to have an outlet; however I do hope that maybe something I share will be helpful to someone. I have found so much advice, comfort, and comradery from reading other blogs. 

My name is Lauren. My husband is Brandon and we have an almost 8 month old son, Brecken. I was a teacher the last four years, but am now going to work from home and be a Mom!  My husband is a dairy farmer, so we are always busy and life is pretty consumed by that. We live in a small, rural town out west and that is a far cry from my southern roots! We love sports, movies, and anywhere warm near the ocean. I am a book worm, Mormon, a runner, and a southern girl y'all (you should the looks I get out here when I say that)! 

My life has completely changed over the last eight months raising our son, and I wouldn't change it for the world. I will say though that it is so much harder, rewarding, exhausting, and crazier than I ever could have imagined. 

Welcome to the Andrew Life!