Merry Christmas

 We had a great Christmas this year! We traveled to the warm climate of Arizona where we got together with all of Joseph's siblings. The first time we were all together since our wedding (where I met two of his siblings for the first time). It was so much fun and Jetta got to meet all her cousins too! Jetta is the 10th cousin, which made Christmas that much better with tons of kids around. The only regret....I didn't use my camera until the last day!

we finally met baby Bryce!

 

Jetta slept through Christmas!

Jetta Helen Packard

Jetta Helen Packard 6lb 11oz and 21 inches long!

On November 23, 2010 at 7:57 am our world changed when we saw and held our beautiful daughter for the first time!  I can’t even describe how fast we fell in love with her. Because I had a C-section I didn’t get to hold her right away, but as soon as they lifted her out and I heard her cry I was in love and in tears! “That’s MY baby, that’s MY sweet sweet baby girl!” It still seems a little unreal, in the “it’s too perfect to be true” kind of a way, but I can’t imagine life without her!

So here is the story…

On Monday Nov 22^nd I had my 39 week doctor appointment.  The previous week the doc told me I was 0% effaced and not at all dilated! He told me that my plan to have Jetta before thanksgiving was not looking so good, and that in fact the chances of her coming in November at all were slim to none! Not what I wanted to hear, but she was at least head down and getting lower! So at this appointment (nov.22) I was hoping to have progressed a little.  Nope! Nothing once again! However, this time when he checked me he no longer felt her head in my pelvic space but instead her bottom!! He sent me down the hall to have an ultra sound to make sure he was correct. Sure enough she was breach. At this point my head was spinning and unsure what all of this meant.  Will I have to have a c-section? I don’t know anything about c-sections, I didn’t plan on a c-section and haven’t read anything or prepared! Everything was changing in a matter of seconds and tears started to roll down my checks. Thank goodness Joseph was with me to help calm me down and tell me everything would be okay. The doctor told us that normally they could try aversion (where they try to turn the baby) but the ultra sound showed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around Jetta’s neck twice and although it was not a problem now, it could potential be one if they tried to turn her. So aversion was out, and chances of her turning back by herself were slim, so a c-section it was.  So a c-section was scheduled for the very next day! Although it wasn’t the plan I expected, Jetta made my ‘before thanksgiving’ plan work out after all.  That night we went home, called family and made sure we had everything ready for 5am the next morning.  After making sure we had everything ready for the 20^th time, Joseph assured me I didn’t need to check again, and took me out for our last date without a child. It was wonderful. Then that night after a blessing we went to bed. I didn’t sleep at all! So when the alarm went off at 4:20am I was already up.

We got to the hospital at 5am and got all set up to go. At 7:30 I was taken into the operating room without Joseph while they gave me a spinal block and prepared me for surgery. Once the blue curtain was up (blocking me from seeing the doctors cut) Joseph was allowed in and he stood next to me holding my hand the whole time. He watched the whole thing and told me what the doctors were doing because all I could feel was a little tugging. I had the nurses lower my curtain when they pulled Jetta out so I could see and the first thing I saw was her cute little butt and then a leg came out! Even though the curtain was lowered I couldn’t see the rest of her. I then watched the respitory therapist take Jetta to the side of the room where he cleaned out her mouth and nose and it was then that I heard the sweetest scream I’ve ever heard! Joseph followed taking tons of pictures, but at this point I still hadn’t seen my beautiful daughter. But finally they brought her to me and I was able to kiss her check and touch her face. She was absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!! Joseph then got to carry her to the nursery where they cleaned her and did whatever it is they do. About ten minutes later I was all sewn up and moved back to my room. And then seconds later I held Jetta for the first time and promised myself I’d never let her go! (Eventually I gave in and let Joseph hold her too!) After holding and seeing Jetta I told Joseph I wanted a thousand of these!! I have since lowered my number, but seriously I didn’t anticipate it being this amazing and loving someone soo much! Jetta is a little angel and we are so happy she is a part of our family and consider ourselves blessed to have such a precious gift given to us from our Father in heaven. 

more pics...

Some of the visitors we had ...didn't get a picture of everyone :(

My two youngest sisters and Jetta's aunties!! :)

Grandma Cheryl

Girl Friend Daphni

Girl Friends Corrine and Amber

Auntie Kendra

Leaving the hospital

 Cousins!! 

 Grandma and Grandpa came to visit too, along with Auntie Kayla and Uncle Hayden!

More photos to come!

Holidays

I just love the Thanksgiving/Christmas Season! I love having family together, sharing meals, cuddling to stay warms, drinking tons of hot chocolate, and reflecting on how blessed we are.  Joseph and I are truly blessed. We have an amazing family that is so supportive and full of love. We have great friends, a great apartment, job security, and true love! And we couldn’t be more blessed to have a sweet little girl join our family any day now. We are extremely grateful to the Lord for all he has blessed us with and we hope all of you are able to recognize how he has blessed you too.

I know that Christmas is not about gifts, but a few of you have asked for our family Christmas wish list, so here are some ideas…

For the Family:

-GAMES – Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Risk, Clue, Pit, anything really… Games we already have…apples to apples, imagine if, pay day, monopoly, scrabble, rummikub, Uno, phase 10, and catchphrase.

-Large Hot Chocolate Mugs

-Restaurant Gift Cards (for date night!!)

For Joseph:

-Any of the games above!

-A water/weatherproof jacket

-Fitted White long sleeve church shirts size: 16 33/34

-Beanie (with rim) and scarf/gloves

-Music: Anything fun and chill ex: John Mayer, Rascal Flatts, any country or even some hip-hop (edited of course)!

-Movies: Any boy movies

For Kristi:

-Shower cap

-Workout pants

-Beanies, scarves, gloves

-Clothes/gift card

-Taylor Swift: Speak Now CD

-Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations

For Jetta

-Hugs, Kisses, and hopefully plenty of sleep!

Pregnancy Observations:

• You find more people smiling at you than you ever did before you were pregnant.
•  Sayings like “wow, you look like you’re about to pop” and “you’ve gotten a lot bigger since I’ve last seen you” are not to be taken offensively.
• Those who have never been pregnant (mostly men) feel free to share with you how your baby is going to come late rather than early.
• Complete strangers think it’s okay to touch and at times even kiss your belly.
• Conversation about size and weight are no longer a faux pas but rather expected.
• Coughing and sneezing now require holding your legs together tightly.
• The Café Rio salad you USED TO share with your husband now looks awfully small.
• The bodily functions of a woman and the labor process become common dinner conversation.
• Feet, hips and back take on a mind of their own.
• Going to bed no longer incorporates sleeping.
• More people go out of their way to help you (open doors, carry groceries, direct you to the restroom…)
• You no longer have to carry the heavy stuff.
• The common greeting “how are you?” is now “how are you feeling?”
•  It is completely normal to breathe like you just ran the great wall of china when really all you did was roll off the couch!

I'm sure there is much more but that's all I can think of right now...here are a few more pictures...

34 weeks

 35 weeks

 36 weeks

Happy Halloween!

So the week before Halloween we had the annual cousin pumpkin carving contest. Apparently there was quite the streak of the Garth Packard cousins always coming in last. And to tell the truth Joseph and I continued that tradition last year! :(  However, Jake and Lauren helped our family name for the last two years by coming in first or second. This year Joseph and I brought our game faces and turned things around for our family's pride! Joseph and I got first place from judges favorite, and Jake and Lauren got first place for participants favorite! Garth Family Represent!!! We had a lots of fun!

It was hard trying to pick out a costume for Halloween this year (with the big belly and everything) but we finally found something that would work!...Here are some pictures....

Carving Pumpkins!

 Awesome right? Joseph and I aren't that good yet!

 Blurry...but we did a wizard of oz theme with all four sides of the pumpkin carved!

 the scare crow

 Tin Man

The Lion

Pregnancy thus far...

I'm officially 35 weeks pregnant today. People keep telling me I look small for how far along I am and I'm hoping that means Jetta is going to be a small baby and not the 11 pounder Joseph keeps telling me I'm having! It has gotten to that point where sleep is in high demand but only comes in small supply, making it that much more precious. Nights are becoming more sleepless and days are getting long, but in reality I've had a really good pregnancy. I did feel a little morning sickness in the first trimester, but it was mostly just annoying rather than persistent. As soon as I hit 14 weeks it was gone...unless I was on a plane! (Word of advice, don't sit next to a pregnant woman on a plane, especially if there is turbulence because chances are anything she ate will be in her lap! Yep. So gross, I was by myself, with people around starring and gagging, so I hid myself in the bathroom until everyone was off the plane! Not an experience I wish to have again).  But other than the 1st trimester and planes, I've been healthy and happy and Jetta too. She is quite the active one. She kicks and moves almost constantly. She has slowed down a little bit as she's gotten bigger and has less space to move, but she definitely moves as much as she can. I first felt her first kick on June 30th and felt her first hiccups on Sept 2nd, and she hasn't stopped doing either since!   

I'm so excited for our little angel to join us and although he shows it differently than I do, Joseph is too. He is always making sure I'm taking my prenatal pills, eating healthy, and he even goes with me to my doctor appointments. The other week we went to a Labor class, and boy was that frightening!! They showed us videos...I almost fainted, while Joseph on the other hand was scooting closer and super into it! I'm more nervous now than I was before the class. But Joseph has been a great support, telling me I'll be great, rubbing my feet, and putting up with all my tossing and turning at night. I love him and I know he is going to make a great father! 

Here are a few pictures....

20 weeks

24 weeks

26 weeks

28 weeks

30 weeks

Finishing Up Summer Strong!

So with Joseph gone half the summer, when he got back we made sure to take advantage of all the time we had before school started again. We went to an outdoor theatre, slid down water slides, visited family in Rexburg, and even bought our first tent and camped at Yellowstone. Even though the summer went by WAY too fast I'm glad we still had time to vacation!