Tuesday, February 28, 2012











Mesa, Az Trip

A few weekends ago we went to Arizona for my cousin Rachel's wedding. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work...Jeff didn't go with me, so I had the two kids by myself. I did get a lot of help from my mom and sisters, but it still was pretty draining. I was still nursing every 2 hours, and Aidyn was a nightmare because she didn't take any naps and she was way out of her element.


Outside the temple

She loved running around the temple...I didn't love chasing her

The happy couple...Congrats you guys!!!

We tried to get a picture with all the great-grandchildren...as you can see, Aidyn was a little grumpy. That was pretty much what she was like the entire weekend...I'm still recovering and its already been a week since we've been home

Lindsey and Alaina came for the wedding,and then went back with us to CA..it was a lot of fun to spend time with Lindsey, and Alaina is such a dream baby...seriously, it made me very jealous. She never cries and is happy all the time

Another picture that sums up Aidyn's trip...she threw a tantrum on the concrete floor because I wouldn't let her have a second cupcake...

Kenna watched the kiddos while I went to the sealing...

Enjoying a red velvet cupcake...

Snell girls, minus Rylee...she lives in AZ but was in Texas for a tennis tournament

Kenna with Aidyn

All the kids waiting outside the temple

One night...we didn't get home until midnight...so Aidyn fell asleep like this right in the middle of the living room...I've never seen her so tired before


Our Weekly Activities

Being a stay at home mom has been fun for me these last few months..Aidyn is at such a fun age...I can actually do things with her. Every week we take at least one trip to the Library (she is still a little young for the storytime they have there, but I still like to go so she interacts with other kids). We also go to the mall and Aidyn plays in the playground they have there...last week we went with Grandma, and Aidyn rode her first merry-go-round...she loved it!!!


At the library

She loves sitting at the tables and pretending to read a book

But her favorite place is sitting in the car they have

Riding the horse

playing with grandma





Life with a newborn and a 17 month old...



Life is hard...the transition from 1 to 2 has been hard for me...probably mainly because Aidyn has started acting up ever since we brought Kasen home from the hospital, and on top of that, Kasen is a horrible baby. I was really hoping I would be blessed with a good baby, because Aidyn was not a good baby, but boy was I wrong. He is even worse than Aidyn was. He cries all the time, constantly flexing his body and grunting as though he is in pain...probably some sort of digestive problem. We have tried gas drops, colic remedies, etc. but nothing seems to work. Then add the problem of him not nursing well, and then not gaining any weight. The dr. was worried so they had me nursing every 2 hours, and in the beginning it took about an hour to nurse total, so I was literally nursing all day long, and all night long...not a fun life. Those first few weeks were hard, but he started getting better at nursing, and around 3 weeks started gaining weight finally, so at least I am not nursing as often. He is still a crier though...all the time. He is either sleeping (during the day, not at night), or screaming. I feel bad for the poor guy, it really does sound like he is in pain. Things are getting better, and I only hope they continue to do so, otherwise I might be re-thinking the wanting 5 kids thing. j/k



The best picture we could get of the two kids...he is always crying

First Sunday back to church

I think he is going to be handsome...what do you think?

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Kasen Scott Gallego



Kasen was born early Tuesday morning, January 24th. It all happened really fast. I had been feeling contractions for the past few days...not painful, just lots of tightening. I was already dilated to a 2 and effaced, so my dr. told me I could go anytime. I had been pretty uncomfortable the last few weeks, and unable to sleep at night, so I was ready for this baby to come. Jeff's sister Jen told me about a drink that helped her labor along. Some mixture with castor oil and a raw egg...not the best tasting, but I really wanted this baby out. I had it at about 7 pm. I continued to have painless contractions, but not consistent. At about 9pm they became much more consistent, and much closer together, but still not painful. They were about 3 min apart at this point. Around 9:30 they started getting pretty painful...and about every 2 min apart. I waited around for another hour or so, and then had Jeff drop me off at the hospital to get checked out. He went back home to be with Aidyn. Once they got me in the room, they checked me and I was only about a 2-3, and contractions were about every 1 1/2 min apart. This was about at 11:30 pm. The nurse was annoying and kept telling me this most likely was false labor, but they would monitor me for an hour or so to see if I progress. After 30 min of contractions every 1 1/2 min apart, I asked her if she would check me again, and told her there was no idea this was false labor...they hurt way too bad. She checked me and I was at a 4. They told me they could admit me now that I was actually in labor...stupid nurse. I called Jeff and had him come. They asked if I wanted an epidural...to which I said please YES!!! They told me they needed to get me hooked up and answer questions first. The whole process took about an hour...the longest hour ever. Nurses asking you questions while you are in the most pain you ever felt before...not very fun. The epidural guy came and told me they usually have to wait until the blood work comes back to give an epidural...I told him to please give it to me now, I couldn't take the pain any longer. He finally got it in and told me it would take anywhere from 30-45 min to kick in. About 5 min after getting the epidural, I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom...I told the nurse and she said she would check me. She did, and sure enough, the baby's head was right there, and I was ready to push. This was at about 1:45 am. It was so hard not to push until the dr. came, but once she did, I pushed him out in about 2 min. I think it went so fast because I was in so much pain because the epidural had not kicked in at all, so I felt everything. And he was not a small baby. 8lb 12oz, 21 1/4 in long, born at 1:59 am. OUCH!!! The nurse told me I could consider it a natural childbirth...which I do...and now I know I would not want to every have a baby naturally again. Overall...I was pretty lucky...my labor pretty much lasted less than 5 hours total, and I only pushed a few minutes. Kasen is perfect in every way. He is still working on nursing...it takes him a lot longer than it took Aidyn, and he still is awake a lot during the night, but I am in love. He is amazing.

Daddy and Kasen

Aunt Corrie with Kasen

Grandma and Grandpa Snell with Kasen

Grandpa with the first grandson

My mom was so mad she missed the labor...she only lives 45 min away, but she didn't think I would progress as fast as I did, so she ended up missing the whole thing...bummer

Kasen and I

Kasen's stats

This was a few min after having him...so glad to be out of pain

My son...that is so weird to say


Rollerblading at the Park

A few weeks ago we wanted something to do...so we went to the park and went rollerblading. Aidyn loved going really fast...it was easier for me being 36 weeks pregnant, Bella loved running as fast as she can, and Jeff loved doing nothing because Bella was pulling him the entire time. We found a new family favorite!

The park by our house is perfect for it...lots of sidewalks and pretty level for the most part

One of the few gradual inclines...a little bit harder as you can see from the expression on my face

She loves going fast!

Wild Animal Park with Rylee

While Rylee was in town, we went to the Wild Animal Park...it was a lot of fun, and Aidyn always loves looking at the animals.


Aunt Rylee

Aidyn got a little tired toward the end of the trip

Cutest girl in the world

She loves the duck...although not that goose...it bit her leg


Aidyn and Aunt Rylee

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Christmas 2011

This year for Christmas we took it easy. We were all sick the entire week before, so we were pretty tired and wiped out. We spent the morning and day in Temecula with the Snells.


Happy Girl

With Grandma

Opening presents with Aunt Kenna

Grandma and Grandpa Snell

Jeff and I on Christmas morning

Aidyn with her favorite toy...a shopping cart she can push around

The whole fam...minus Jeff, Linds, Caleb and Alaina

Lining up on the stairs to go see presents...a Snell family tradition