Surprise! It's a GIRL!

Every life starts with a story - some are exciting, some are scary but all are special. There is nothing - NOTHING as special as bringing a sweet baby into the world. They bring all sorts of emotion: excitement, joy, happiness, sorrow (cause it might be my last), pain (cause it hurts!) and exhaustion. And through it all, I am overwhelmed with happiness that I am allowed to care for this new little being, teach her right from wrong, make sure she knows she is a valued person with talents and strengths, then release her into the world to make a name for herself. It's an overwhelming resposibility, but one that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

Alyssa Evelyn Wright's story begins Friday, January 14, 2011. I was feeling a little anxious since I was only one week from the due date. This wouldn't bother most people - but I have never been this "late" and the doctor was convinced I would be early. Also, Jake's birthday was on Sunday and we were going to dinner to celebrate that evening. There was no school that day, so I took the children to Nickel City. Jake was sick that day but still went. We ended up going to dinner that evening and finished the evening watching the final movie of the Borne series. I guess I must have had a feeling because I thought, "I should take a photo of myself in case I go into labor."
And so I did - and my brother Scott joined me. (Yes, one of us is a lot bigger than the other!) This photo was taken at 1:15 a.m. on January 15th - a few minutes before I went into labor.

There were three things I didn't want to happen with baby #4:
1. I didn't want a middle of the night labor
2. I have 5 doctors in our group. I like all but one. I didn't want this ONE particular doctor
3. I didn't want a baby one day before or one day after Jake's birthday.

Guess who successfully managed to get all she didn't want?!

So I woke up at 2 am exactly with my water broken. We quickly got ready to head to the hospital, thinking it would be a very quick delivery like baby #3. Luckily, this labor was a little slower and allowed for a little down time as compared to baby #3! This time, it pretty much mirrored Juliana's birth - almost to the minute!

Anyway, we headed to the hospital at 2:15 a.m. It just so happen to be thick fog the entire way. We finally arrived and I quickly requested an epidural. I received one around 3 a.m. Once that happened, it was smooth sailing! ;) It was then that I realized that the one doctor I don't like would be the one that would deliver. I held on hope that maybe this baby would wait until 6 a.m. when the doctor would be replaced with the one I wanted.
Ryan came to visit and he and Jeff took a long nap - pretty much until it was time!
At 5:30, the nurse came and it said it was time! I was so excited - but of course, we couldn't wait until the doctor change at six!! I would just have to live with "Mr. Personality" as my doctor. Bummer.

We didn't find out the gender with this baby. I was SURE (without a doubt) that this baby was a boy. I just knew it - in fact, my motherly instincts told me so! I was also a little sad when she said it was time. I think this might be my last. And I love to be pregnant. So with mixed emotions, the time came.

At 5:47, after four or five pushes, a darling little baby arrived. It seemed to take an eternity because the cord was wrapped around it's neck three times. In slow motion, I kept asking, "What is it?" but no one responded (because no one could tell yet!) Finally (although it was less than two seconds) the nurse yelled, "It's a girl!" To which I replied, "Are you SURE?" But I saw for myself: we had a beautiful, tiny baby girl!
With lots of hair too! She weighed in at 7 lbs, 6oz and 20 inches long - my biggest baby yet!


After cleaning her up, they delivered her to her dad so he could be the first to meet her.
And FINALLY they let me meet her too! (You know what bothered me? And I blame the doctor! With all my other babies, the doctor places the baby on my chest and lets me see them first. One doctor let me hold the baby even before they measured and cleaned her. This doctor just wisked her away and it took ten minutes before I could see her! In fact, I asked the nurse twice if I could please just see the baby! But the wait was worth it - it was love at first sight!)
She is absolutely perfect!!!
I couldn't keep my hands off of her sweet, soft little face.
Then Mimi got to hold her.
It was a long, long night. Papa wanted to be there too, but he was out of town for a conference. He came on his way back from the airport at 8 am. He spent the day holding her while Jeff and I slept.
Then it was time for the sisters to meet the newest little sister. When Addy came into the room, the nurse was there. She asked the nurse if she was now the big sister! SO PROUD!
Our other little mother fell in love with her sister too!

We spent the entire day going through names. I am noncommittal (in case you didn't know!) and names are hard for me, REALLY hard! We went through Analise, Annie, Kate (which I LOVED) and Alyssa. I'm happy with Alyssa, but I kind of just let Jeff decide at the last minute because I was tired of thinking of a name. Alyssa fits her, even if it took me a few days to remember her name! (Don't worry - I remember it now!) I guess that is why people name their babies before they come!
The girls came to pick us up around five p.m. and we got ready to head home to the chaos and mess of the compound!
We only stayed at the hospital for one day - Jake's birthday was the next day and I didn't want to miss it. I then spent an entire two weeks in my pajamas (best advice ever!) and enjoyed holding my beautiful new newborn - because they are only little once!

Happy Birthday Jake!

9 Years OLD! WOW! Seriously, where did the time go? I look at him and I think, "HOW? How did you get to be so big?" We all know time flies, but I just didn't know how fast!

Because we were expecting the arrival of our new baby, we decided to host his party a week before his actual birthday. It was a small party (poor guy, I always tend to have the excuse that I am "so tired" - usually due to Christmas. But this time it was because I really was tired!) We only invited five boys - and only three could come! But where friends are lacking, Uncle's fill in! We had a sledding party where we took the boys up to Jolley's Ranch - a really fun mini-resort located up the canyon. They had a great time!

Cousin Jordan was super nice to come and play with us! (He is my girls' favorite!)
Cousin Austin loved it! But of course, he has his Dad in him! Anything snow related he is ALL over it!
And cousin Jackson was nice enough to come too!





We ended the party with hot chocolate and donuts - (I bought two dozen, but they didn't last long when each boy had FIVE!!)Good times had by all! Happy Birthday Jake!

New Years Eve Festivities!

Happy 2011! We started out New Years Eve with a Chinese/sushi (for those that like it) dinner. It was delicious! And the kids were surprising well behaved.



After our bellies were full, we headed home where Papa had a little surprise for all of the children. But let me back up... what Christmas gift do you get the guy (or father) who has everything? That was my dilemma this year (and pretty much every year). But luckily, a brillant idea hit me about August. I got with Uncle Richard and we (ok, he) designed the gift: The White Thunder Railroad. I bought three sets of tires before I got it right (poor Uncle Richard was loosing patience with me!) and one wrong hitch (that's when he said, "I'll just pick it up!) And he was nice enough to weld the bases together. We really bonded, he and I. I personally think he is having Jen withdrawals after our fabulous train building experience! :) But really, I couldn't have done this project without him. I wish everyone had an Uncle Richard!

Anyway, we started in August, but of course it was Christmas Eve before it was actually finished! But here's the unveiling on Christmas day:
Click here to view the You Tube Video


So back to the surprise. New Years Eve was cold. Bitterly, bitterly cold. I think I am still recovering from frost bite :) But we bundled the kids and headed outside for the "surprise."


Sorry that the camera is shaking - I was COLD...

View the YouTube Video HERE!

Papa hooked up 5 large fireworks and drove the train around the neighborhood. We were joined by some of Craig's friends from Arizona. They thought it was a little too cold for fireworks! It was a lone act - we were the only ones brave (or stupid) enough to be outside!

Then we headed in for the "countdown." This is Jake's first time staying up. Might be his last too, he was one cranky child the next morning!

Some of us got a little New Years Smooch-aroo ;)


I'd add a nice photo of Jeff and I - but we were looking a little exhausted and it wasn't the best photo of us!

Then we finished up the evening with a little bit of shot glass toasts - using sparkling cider, of course!
Papa got a little crazy with the drinks and pulled out some homemade rootbeer. Yeah, that stuff might be illegal in some states!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Season

Zoom. Zoom - that pretty much sums up the month of December! I love this season. It just makes me happy.



One of the biggest highlighs of the month was going to the Draper Stake live nativity. This is a "word of mouth" event. I heard about it last year from my brother's girlfriend. So last year, I thought I would take the kids. Happened to be the coldest night of the week. PLUS I went at the wrong time and ended up waiting for three hours in the cold with no husband back up (he was at school.) It was absoltuely miserable - until we walked into the "stable" and saw the live nativity. I remember just crying and thinking, "this is what it is all about." It was a remarkably spiritual, humbling experience. I knew just how awesome this experience really was. So I convinced the compound to go and see it. Same experience as last year: COLD, COLD, COLD and busy, busy, busy. (But this time I remembered the hot chocolate!)


And this is the end result: Absolutely beautiful. Even my children stopped and watched the scene for awhile. Words can't describe the experience. But both Karalee and Pop's said it was well worth the wait in the cold. Because it really is.



This year, they added the live camels. The kids were so excited to feed them!

We saw Santa at the ward Christmas party. Jake has hit that "cheesy" stage!! :)