Ethan Jared Austin

Our little Ethan was born on Monday, October 27th at 1:32 pm. He weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces and is 20 inches long. I went to the hospital around 11:00 Monday morning after about 12 hours of minor contractions.

One the way to the hospital I started getting some hard contractions. When we got to the hospital the nurses checked me and I was dilated to a 7. They put me in a delivery room. I had hard contractions that were very painful for about an hour. I asked Jared to get a nurse to check me to see how much more I had to dilate. If I still had awhile I wanted an epidural. The nurse came in a check...I was at 10 cm. Forget the drugs! My water finally broke about 3o seconds after the nurse checked me. Doctor Howard came in shortly after that and I started pushing. Ethan was born around 1:30...the whole labor lasted about 2 1/2 hours. 

Ethan has done so good! He passed all the tests with flying colors. He is so cute and we love him so much! We brought him home last night around 5:00pm. We are so excited to be parents!!! 

Happy Halloween (early)!!

Since my due date is November 1st we are guessing that I won't quite be up to the usual Halloween festivities because I will have either given birth, be giving birth or I will be recovering from giving birth. And yes I have ruled out the possibility that I will still be waiting to give birth. I know I am probably jinxing myself and our baby will come a week or two late just because I wrote this but oh well. So Jared and I had the brilliant idea of getting some of our Halloween festivities out of the way now. We went to the grocery store and bought everything pumpkin. We bought all the ingredients for a pumpkin pie and we bought three pumpkins to carve. One for me, one for Jared, and one for the baby.

Yes we bought and caved a pumpkin for the baby...can someone say first time parents. Jared carved the baby's pumpkin as well as his own. Jared carved a double sided pumpkin. One side was a face that matched the baby's pumpkin and the other side was a ghost. I only carved one side in the time Jared did two sides and caved the baby pumpkin. Here they are!

Here is the delicious pumpkin pie that I made. It was so yummy! I LOVE pumpkin pie!

I have to add one more thing...If I am still waiting to deliver by the 31st I am going to buy a big orange shirt and then draw a pumpkin face on the shirt right over my big belly and go to the Halloween party as a pumpkin. So for the sake of all those who might have to see me in a terrible Halloween costume pray that the baby is early. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Jennifer Comes to Visit

Jared and I had our second visitor from my side of the family come to Phoenix. Jennifer (my little sister) needed to use an airline ticket credit before it expired so she decided she would fly to Phoenix to see us. Jennifer didn't find out her airline credit expired until two days before the expiration date. She called me at work and said, "Hey Marcie...is it okay if I come and visit you ...tomorrow?" I was trilled! I ran over to my mangers desk and got Thursday and Friday off. 

 

It was a very fun visit. We had a blast! Jared dragged Jennifer and I to a baseball game and Jennifer and I dragged Jared to a Ballet in the Park. (OK so the baseball game was pretty fun.) 

Jennifer Marcie and Jared at the Diamondback's game

We also went shopping a few places and I had to take Jennifer to the unique cuisine here in Phoenix that you can't find in Idaho...In-N-Out and Paradise Bakery. 

Jennifer's first taste of the delicious food at Paradise Bakery

In-N-Out Burgers!!

This is the awesome In-N-Out employee that posed for us when he saw us taking pictures of our burgers.

Jennifer and Marcie shopping at Old Navy and no I didn't buy anything. Jared would be so proud!

Jennifer happened to come down the same weekend as my baby shower. That worked out so well. Speaking of the baby shower...thank you to everyone for the gifts. I feel very blessed to have so many wonderful friends. I was very touched by the generosity and love of all of my dear friends I have made here in Phoenix. THANK YOU!!! Our baby boy thanks you too. 

Some of my good friends at the baby shower.

Another weekend highlight was the Olympics that we threw together. Jared, Jennifer, and I went to the dollar store and picked out a bunch of games. Then we went home and made them into Olympic events. We had a memory matching game, a bubble blowing contest, a jump roping contest (I did participate in that one and did quite well for a pregnant lady). We also did a puzzle putting together contest and a dance competition. It was very fun. Now Jennifer knows how weird we really are. I also took Jennifer to a craft store and we made some cute jewelry...see for yourself...

All in all the five days that Jennifer was here were a blast. Jennifer thanks for coming to visit and for putting up with me! We loved having you! If anyone else wants to come visit I promise we will show you a great time!