Baby Luke is Here!

Luke Michael South

Born June 23, 2011

6 lbs. 14 oz 18.5 inches

So for those who want to know:

Luke was born 3 weeks and 1 day early

I started contracting at about 2:00 p.m.

Got to the hospital at 3:00p.m.

Monitor me for 1 hour

New Nurse (not very smart or confident) told me that I was just dehydrated and not in active labor and told me to drink some water

Contractions started coming faster and harder

Because I am now crying and shaking, New Nurse says, "Are you in a lot of pain? You LOOK like you're in labor." She has another nurse check me (because she couldn't tell) and I am at a 5+

They admit me and New Nurse tries to get an IV started so that I can get the epidural

Having major contractions about 2 minutes apart

New Nurse tries twice (my hand was bleeding everywhere)

I finally get the epidural and the anesthesiologist tells New Nurse that her IV job stinks and to try AGAIN! 3rd times the charm, now I just look like a domestic dispute victim

I start to feel GREAT! LOVE THE EPIDURAL!

Shift change: Yay! Loved this nurse!

Started pushing at 7:55 p.m.

Baby is facing up (a lot harder to push out)

Luke arrived at 8:30 SAFE AND SOUND!

Thank Heaven!

I'm so happy to not be pregnant anymore!

So happy to be going home!

Feels Like Home

Finally, after living in our house for almost two years it is starting to feel like a home! This summer we have finally been able to work on our yard and it makes such a huge difference!

I have always wanted a porch to hang bunting from. I've kinda gone a little crazy with my patriotic-ness!

Griffin loves the porch too. It's a great place to practice climbing..

and to play with cars...

and to practice yoga!

Now on to the backyard. Here is the before...

And after!

These pictures are from last summer when Marc was building the deck.

He designed it himself and it was a lot of work! We are grateful for Marc's dad and Brother Jeff who came and helped with the finishing touches.

And TaDa! Isn't it beautiful! It is so fun to come out here and relax!

I love the stairs and the bench. Marc is so talented and creative! I need to get some flowers in that planter box...

Marc got a firepit for Father's Day and we've added it to the circle. We tried it out tonight for the first time and it is wonderful! You should come hang out with us... or at least use us for our smores!

Marc's 30th and 31st Birthdays!

Last year for Marc's 30th birthday I decided to do something special since 30 is a big milestone. So I got him a gift certificate for skydiving!

Well finally, the day before his 31st birthday he got around to using his gift certificate. He took his brother Jeff (mini Marc) and his friend Joe with him. Here they are before any of the action started. They began by watching an "instructional" video that was hilarious. It featured a man with a beard down to his belly button who basically told you if you die, your family can't sue. It also showed video a footage of an ambulance driving away to which Joe stated, "do they need to show the ambulance? Why don't they just show a grave?"

Here they are all suited up and ready to go!

What's wrong with this picture? We had some time before they went up and we took tons of pictures with this little demo plane. I was laughing so hard, I thought I was gonna go into labor!

One last kiss for the unborn...

And they are on their way! Que Kenny Loggins Top Gun Theme...

They each did a flip as they jumped out of the plane. They free fall for about one minute before they pull the parachute rip cord. While free falling Marc's tandem guy did tons of spins and Marc said he thought he was gonna toss his cookies!

They got to steer the parachute so that was pretty cool!

And luckily they all landed safe and sound! They had a blast and are ready to do it again!

What is Up

Griffin LOVES fire trucks so on Memorial Day we went to the American Fork Fireman's Breakfast. Griffin loved being able to get close to the truck and said "Fire Truck" about 1000 times, followed by "Weee ooo weee ooo weee ooo" (his sound for the siren.)

The food on the other hand... well I'm pretty sure that I've never eaten so many calories for so cheap. Nuff said. We picked up my dad and took him with us. He saw so many people that knew him and would come and say, "hi" and as soon as they would walk away he would say, "I don't know who that was." It was pretty funny.

Marc has been spending every spare second that he has getting the backyard ready for sod.

Finally, last Saturday, it stopped raining long enough to get it done!

We had the best help! Our neighbors just showed up to help, and Marc's dad and my family were a huge help too. The sod got to our house at 7:00 a.m. and they were done by 9:30 a.m! Thank you for all of your help!

I will get a better picture but for now here's a preview of our new greenery!

Sunday was so beautiful so we went up Provo Canyon to soak up some sunshine.

We ended up at Bridal Veil Falls. The river is so high right now! We were brave and walked through the little stream at the bottom of the falls. Griffin wasn't happy about the freezing water, but he had a great time throwing rocks into the stream.

It was such a beautiful day!

We're getting closer! 34 weeks!