Arrow weeks 1-9

1 week old: very alert and already flashed her first smile

2 weeks old: sleeping and eating well.  Had her two week check up weighing in at 7 pounds 9 ounces.  95% for height and 25% for weight.. tall and skinny!  Doc predicts she will be 5'11".

3 weeks old: sweet as can be and smiling here and there.

4 weeks old: still a great sleeper and nurser!

5 weeks old: went to first Jazz game and was the perfect babe!

6 weeks old: snoozin.

7 weeks old: making a funny face!  Smiling lots and responding to mommy's voice.

8 weeks old:  LOVES her sissy Quorra and flashin' smiles.  Had her 2 month check up and was 10 pounds 1 ounce and 23 3/4 inches.  Doc says she is VERY alert and smart... I KNOW!  She's 25% for weight and was average for height this time.. Doc predicts that will change and she'll stay tall!

9 weeks old: growing more and more beautiful by the day.  She wakes up typically just once to nurse at night and sleeps like a dream still.  (knock on wood!)

Arrow Faith

So ... it's been ages since I've blogged.  I miss it.  I had a baby... per the title - Arrow Faith.  I need to document her birth story somewhere so since Quorra's is saved somewhere in here too I figured I'd put it here.

Quick re-cap: I found out I was pregnant with Arrow on April 1st.. yep April fools day.. so of course Jared didn't believe me when I told him.  I was so excited and yet super nervous as well.  How was I going to juggle life with another baby while working and taking care of 3 kids and my home!?  We are managing.. ;)

Anyway - on with the birth story.....

Last preggo pic at 38 weeks and 3 days.

Sunday November 23rd 7:30(ish)pm I started to have some light contractions.  Not to painful just the kind that take your breath away.  I figured it was just like any other day since I've had contractions here and there for a week but nothing to send me to the hospital.  I was also only 39 weeks and didn't expect to be a week early.  We had spent the afternoon at my parents house and my mom told me to just keep an eye on contractions and time them out.  So around 8 or 9 we headed home.  I got the kids to bed then laid down to try and get some rest.  Jared fell asleep pretty quick but I was uncomfortable so I just laid in bed until 10:30pm timing contractions.  I decided I should probably let my doula know what was going on so she could be available if this was the real deal.  She let me know she had her phone on loud and to just keep her posted if I needed her.  So while Jared snored away (literally!), I timed contractions and by 11:30pm I was starting to have some pretty intense and painful contractions and decided I would need my doula to come help me labor.  She showed up about midnight and the midwife showed up around 12:30.  The midwife checked me and I was 100% effaced and at a 4.  We labored and chatted while trying different positions to help me be comfortable throughout the contractions.  We let Jared sleep since clearly it was going to be a long night.  Around 2:30am we started walking my stairs to keep things progressing.  The midwife checked me about 2:45am and I was almost to a 6 so we decided we better head to the hospital.  My hospital is a 30 minute drive so we didn't want to get too far along and not make it... (yikes)  So we got in the car and on the road by 3am and made it to the hospital at 3:30am where my mom met us.  I had called ahead to have them get a room ready for me and requested a nurse that was pro-natural labor.

We got right into our room and labored for 3 hours and 41 minutes when Arrow Faith Teter arrived.  She weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 20 inches long.  She was/is perfect.  My heart doubled in size immediately.

Life as of late...

Life has been so crazy hectic lately.  We've had so much basketball for Kalel.  Lots of family stuff going on and lots of WORK.  I decided I needed to set some goals to allow me some relaxation time and some time for myself.  As mothers we often neglect ourselves (am I right?).. there's always something to do for husband, the kids, friends, and extended family.

So I've got back into working out 5 days a week and  that is one thing that makes my whole day go 10x better.  I love feeling healthier and watching my body transform.  I'm already growing some mean muscles.  (I am trying anyway... haha)

I'm also trying to meal plan a little better and a little healthier.  Husband and I cut out soda just a week ago and I'm already feeling a difference.  I tend to get lazy with meals and we eat out a lot.  So for the past week and half I've been planning dinners every night.  Lots of crock pot meals since they are easy to throw together at noon while the baby naps.

I am feeling a difference with everything since I'm getting into a more positive routine.  My routine used to be a lot more sluggish and busy and neglectful of the most important things.  I was busy working from home while tending to the baby and not really giving her the attention she needs.  So I try to work a little while she plays then once it's nap time I work as much as possible then spend the afternoon playing outside or walking around the house with her watching her grow.

Life seems to move so fast.  I'm trying to freeze the moments I can.  Thank goodness for iphones!  I get some of the BEST pictures and videos of little Q thanks to that device attached to my hand.

Quorra is SO close to walking.  She is talking a ton.  She says new things all the time.  Her favorite new thing is saying Ow and showing us an old scab that once was a fresh scratch.  She calls everyone baby and flirts like no other (not a surprise!)

Little One

This little lady has such a personality about her.  She just started saying "stop" last Sunday.  It's pretty cute and melts my heart a little.  Even though when she says it she is usually telling me to stop taking away a cord or something else she wants to play with but shouldn't.

We are really looking forward to summer in this house.  Q loves when the weather is warm enough to go for a walk or swing at the park.  Then when Utah becomes bi-polar and freezes up again, she starts to go stir crazy.

Quorra turned 1! {12 Months Old}

Quorra's first swing... and she was lovin it!

This is Quorra's latest thing... chin to her shoulder with a big grin.  It's her shy flirt she does to anyone we see at the store or at church.   She sure is cute.

Being her silly self.

First Birthday pictures!

Birthday morning with Anni and Kalel!  The kids were so excited to celebrate with Quorra after school.  The day was pretty low key.  Quorra was happy pretty much all day (no surprise there).  We picked up pizza from Costco and some cake from Smith's and did a small family party.  (I'll post the pics from my camera later)  Quorra was excited to once again unwrap presents mostly for the paper but her cousins sure did have fun playing with her toys!  She really loved hearing us sing Happy Birthday and since then keeps singing "aaaapppy"

Stuff Quorra is saying these days: Mom, mama, Dad, puppy, baby, dogs outside, hi, yeah, happy and up.

11 Months Old!

We LOVE these pouch baby foods.  Quorra can't get enough of being a big girl and eating by herself.

Captered a tantrum being thrown.  Couldn't help but get a picture!

Happy Valentines day from this blue eyed beauty!

Standing and didn't even notice because she was so distracted by wanting daddy's water.

This girl has so much peronality and sass.  She has her flirt down pat.  I love her to bits.  I wish I could freeze time but I can only imagine months to come will be so much fun with this little ball of fire.

10 Months Old!

Are you kidding me?  Could you ever get enough of that cheeser grin?  This girl loves bath time in the big girl tub!

She refuses bottles but LOVES anything with a straw.  She's been a pro with drinking through a straw for at least 4 months now.  Love her little hand holding the straw in her mouth!

My little fashionista.  Rockin a faux leather jacket (from Nordstrom Rack), OH DEER shirt (from Mini & Maximus), Deer leggings (from Osh Kosh), and Moccs (from Freshly Picked).

annnnd of course loving some diaper time.

my heart.

40 Weeks Old

Beenie girls!

This is what Sunday's look like for us now-a-days.  Quorra hates to sit...she wants to crawl and roam the halls.

Quorra has begun standing in her crib and jumping.  Time to lower the bed!

Another cold winter day.  Getting ready to go pick up mama's new car!

Got my new car today that I ordered 6 weeks ago!  I am LOVING it and it feels nice to have something new to drive around.  Thanks Hubs for hooking me up!

9 Months Old / First Christmas

Me with my kiddies the night before Christmas in our new jammies! (they were soooooo excited)

Quorra with her stocking!  She loved her monkey!

The kids coming up the stairs to see what Santa brought them on Christmas morning.  My family had a tradition of taking this picture every year on Christmas morning in order from youngest to oldest.

Little Q enjoyed her First Christmas.  She really just loved the wrapping paper - as expected.  It was overall a really great Christmas.  The kids were thrilled with everything they got from Santa.  {I was pretty thrilled with my Louis Vuitton wallet my boo surprised me with!}

39 Weeks Old!

Picture with auntie Erynne.

Picture with mama.

Quorra is growing into such a big girl.  Her first Christmas is in 2 days and I'm SOOO excited! (I am probably more excited than she will be!)  We had a Christmas party at Jared's aunts house and it was a good time as always.

38 Weeks Old!

This little lady got lanterns put up in her room and she loves em'!

Quorra's second time on a plane.  Heading to Los Angeles to play with Daddy for a few days.  She was a perfect little babe once again.

Baby's First Christmas pictures!

37 Weeks Old

My dolly taking a bath.

First Christmas.  Loved looking at the tree. (and posing)

First time at Red Robin and she was looooovin the strawberry lemonade.

That smile!

Santa!  She was intrigued..(and a little scared/nervous)