Saturday, November 9, 2013

Quinn ReNae Udy

As many of you know our little bundle of joy arrived November 1st at 11:06pm (2 days early). She weighed 6 pounds 11oz. We still pinch ourselves to make sure this all hasn't been a wonderful dream. Lance and I spend a lot of our time just staring at her and taking in her beauty and innocence. We are so blessed to have her in our lives.

Now for the details!

My mom flew out Oct. 28th to keep me company while Lance flew out to Portland for fellowship interviews. I was so relieved to have her here with me just in case Quinn came before Lance made it back. Luckily, Quinn waited until Friday to come. Friday morning my mom, Lance, and I went for a nice long walk around Lake Como to get labor going. After our walk we had lunch at a little Cafe in St. Anthony Park. We continued our walk at the Como Conservatory. Around 3pm I noticed my contractions were coming every 5 minutes and getting stronger so we left the conservatory for home so I could rest for what was coming. We watched Ratatouille and When Harry Met Sally. By 8 o'clock I was ready to leave for the hospital so off we went!

Once at the hospital we were put into triage so that I could be checked. I was 4cm dilated and 90% effaced. They decided to leave me in triage for an hour to see if I would progress. Well I SURE DID! During the hour my contractions got stronger and stronger. To ease my anxiety, Lance gave me a priesthood blessing and turned on Church hymns, which really helped. The midwife came in to check me in the middle of a contraction and said, "If this isn't labor I don't know what is, let's get her into a room". This was music to my ears! The short walk from triage to my room was interrupted by 2 really painful contractions. I thought to myself, "how much worse can this get?!" Once I got into the bath tub, the hot water took the edge off the contractions and I was able to manage them a lot better. I think I was in the tub for about an hour and a half. Lance was with me the entire time! He massaged my back, poured water over my stomach, gave me sips of water, spoke words of encouragement, and held my hand. My mom and doula, Mary, were there as well. The dimly lit room and music were very relaxing. With each contraction everyone helped me work through it and praised me. It was exactly the kind of environment I needed to have a natural birth experience.

Once I was in transitional labor I started to doubt my myself and my ability to cope with the pain. Luckily I had my dream team with me to get me through it. I remember asking to have the midwife check me because I started to feel the urge to push. Well sure enough I was completely dilated and ready to meet my baby! As soon as I stood up from the bath my body began pushing Quinn out. We hurriedly moved to the bed. I remember hearing myself roaring just as a reaction to what was going on. My midwife told me to try not to since my throat would be sore later. So I took deep breaths instead. The difference between transition contractions and pushing contractions is amazing! I literally didn't have pain between each push. There was a definite beginning and end to each contraction, whereas the transition contractions never really ended. It took me three pushes to get Quinn out. Lance got to catch her and place her on my chest! I couldn't believe she was finally here! All I could say was "my baby, my baby" and "I'm done!"

The nurses at Regions were angels. They took such great care of Quinn and I. All in all, it was an amazing experience. One that we will never forget!

A few days later we had our family pictures taken. Here are some of our favorites!








Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Maternity Pictures

Lance and I had some pictures taken of us before our little girl arrives. We had a fun time! Here are some of our favorites.















Trip to Nauvoo, IL and Carthage Jail

Hi all! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Lance has been in the process of applying for fellowships post graduation and has needed his laptop 24/7 (literally).

 Shall we pick up where we left off? We left North Carolina August 17th and broke the trip up into 3 days which was great for me! Being pregnant makes a long car trip almost unbearable. Our first stop was in Tennessee where we met up with Lance's brother Brett for dinner. It's nice that his job takes him in our direction! The next day we visited Carthage Jail which is where the prophet, Joseph Smith, was martyred. It was a very spiritual day for us. Once we were done there we drove about 20 more miles NE to Nauvoo, IL. Nauvoo was the last settlement for the early saints before moving west to live and worship in peace. We had an amazing time! Everyone was so kind. The stories and history there are not something to be missed!






 John Taylor (one of the 12 apostles) said of Joseph Smith, "[He] lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!"

 Carthage Jail. Where Joseph Smith and his brother were martyred. 

 Joseph and his brother Hyrum

Nice view of the Mississippi River.

The saints cut these stones from the river bank and moved them up hill to where the temple was constructed. No cranes...

Cultural Center

The saints lived in log cabins before their homes were constructed. The saints dedicated every tenth day to building the temple while simultaneously building their own homes.


 John Taylor's house


 School house

 Brigham Young's home

 A replica of a wagon used during the time of the migration. They were really narrow!

 Beautiful sunset over the Mississippi river. The saints crossed this river with their wagons and supplies they needed to make it to the Salt Lake valley.

 Nauvoo Temple

Joseph Smith and Hyrum's last ride. They were on their way to Carthage jail to face trial. They were falsely accused of rioting and treason. Joseph Smith said, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men. If they take my life I shall die an innocent man..."


A stone used to construct the Nauvoo Temple.

 We made rope! We also learned how to make candles, bread, pottery, rugs, wool, bricks, and barrels!



 Cool, huh?

At the gunsmith

 Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith's grave



Sunday, August 11, 2013

Fun with Leo and Julie!

A few weeks after I arrived in Chapel Hill, Lance's parents came to visit us. Thanks to them we got to see a lot of North Carolina! They always come see us, no matter if it's Rexburg, Minneapolis, or Chapel Hill. We love them!

We started our adventures at Wrightsville Beach. Our hotel was RIGHT on the ocean!

It was a little rainy and windy at times, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the beach.

 We did a little shopping...

 ...and eating. Although, this wasn't what we had in mind. I don't recommend soft shell crab.

 When we got back to Chapel Hill, we headed over to Durham to enjoy the Duke Gardens.

 If you can't tell, it was a HOT day! But well worth it!

When it would rain again, we would take shelter at Mama Dips.

We enjoyed some 4th of July festivities in Mount Airy.

Mount Airy was the hometown of Andy Griffith and was designed to look like Mayberry. 

Here we are with Andy and Opie Taylor.

 Deputy Barney Fife nabbed us for Jaywalking.

Silly Lance.

 Lance got some action from Thelma Lou.

We had a blast!

 
 On our way back we stopped by Mount Pilot.

 Absolutely beautiful!

That evening we went to UNC's football stadium to watch the fireworks.

Enjoy!

Thanks again Leo and Julie! We always have a blast hanging out with you two. We are looking forward to our next adventure together!