This Photo Makes My Heart Melt

Do you see the resemblance? Jackson is so lucky to have Dereck to call Daddy.

Jackson's Birth Story

I woke up on Sunday morning, April 29, to a cool spring breeze blowing through the blinds and the sound of happy children. I was 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant and feeling pretty miserable. I sat up a lot through the night because of heartburn and allergies. I asked my sweet husband for a blessing and then started to get ready for church. I started to notice that the contractions I had been feeling for months were now coming regularly and often, about every 5 minutes. I started tidying my bedroom and adding last minute things to my bag to take to the hospital when I looked out the window and saw a mother bird with a big piece of straw in her beak. She was coming in and out of a crack near the roof of the shed behind our house. I thought about how we were both building our nests, preparing for our offspring.

After talking to my doula, Claire, Dereck and I decided to stop by her home so she could see if things were progressing. She said that I was dilated to a 4, but my baby still needed to descend and she suggested that Dereck and I go on a walk. Knowing that my children were in good hands with their Aunt Nonny and Uncle Lui, Dereck and I decided to go for a long walk as she had suggested.

We sat on the hillside of Popperton Park in the Avenues overlooking the city and had a picnic dinner, not knowing when we would be able to eat our next meal. Then we hiked the foothills just north of University Hospital for about two hours. I enjoyed this time with Dereck so much. I felt like I was at the right place with the right person by my side. The contractions were coming more often, but they were not too uncomfortable. By about 7:00 p.m., the sun was starting to set and the air was cooling and Dereck and I felt exhausted. We went into the hospital to use the restroom, but decided not to go up to Labor and Delivery. I figured they would want to admit me and I wanted to be home as much as I could. I had decided in January that I wanted this birth to be different than my others. I didn't want to be induced and I didn't want the epidural or any pain killers. Natural childbirth was something I wanted to experience.

Dereck and I went home and my mom was kind enough to spend the night at our house so that we could go to University Hospital at any time during the night. I had a warm bath and we went to bed. Around 3:00 a.m. I let Dereck know that the contractions were getting stronger and lower and it was time to go the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital I was dilated to a 6 and we got situated in our Labor and Delivery room. I can now attest to the power of endorphins and hypnobirthing (the relaxation method we learned in our childbirth classes). I did not receive any drugs, but I really felt drugged. One of my friends described it as an out of body experience and my sister called it Labor Land. It felt surreal to me.

Claire and her backup, Robynne, were wonderful and knew at every moment how to help. Once Claire and Robynne arrived, the time went very quickly. My doctor was not able to be there until 7:30 a.m. and I really think I was holding out for him to be there. Dr. Sharp is someone who I respect and trust and it was important for me to have him there. Everything went really well and I am grateful for all the support and love I felt while giving birth to our precious baby, most especially from my eternal sweetheart. Dereck was so amazing and I saw a whole different side of him and our relationship through this process. He was really there for me. I am so grateful for him!

Jackson is bombarded by sisterly love!!!

Now I am home, the most wonderful place to be, happy to assume my role as nest builder, lunch maker, hair doer, kisser of the scraped knees, shelter from the storm. It has been a wonderful journey with Dereck by my side. I am thankful beyond words!

Announcing Our Latest Addition

Jackson Boyd Jacobs

Born April 30, 2012 at 8:36 a.m.

7 lbs. 13 oz. 19.8 inches

"Fathers and mothers, next time you cradle a newborn child in your arms, you can have an inner vision of the mysteries and purpose of life. You will better understand why the Church is as it is and why the family is the basic organization in time and in eternity. I bear witness that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that the plan of redemption, which has been called the plan of happiness, is a plan for families."-President Packer, April 2012

Easter in St. George

Fabulous bike trails...

Fun family...

Best of all, time together...

I am proud to be a Jacobs. Broyce and Linda have raised a wonderful family. Way to go!

Thank you, Kate, for hiding my huge belly...

Dereck's brother Chris blessed their new baby Whitney on Easter Sunday and then we ate and ate and ate.

Quilts

This is how I spent my sick days!

And this is my pregnant belly getting in the way of taking a good photo!

Getting Ready for Baby

For Family Home Evening in April, we talked about having a baby on the way and we had a contest to see who could put a diaper and bib on their baby first. We talked about how special newborns are and how fragile they are. It was a lot of fun. I love the handsome man in this photo!

We Swirl

Dereck and the girls at their very favorite frozen yogurt shop, You Swirl.

And Now...Here's Our News

Dereck and I had our ultrasound on December 16, but we decided that it would be fun to wait until Christmas to find out if we are having a boy or girl. We had the ultrasound tech write it on the inside of a card and seal it. Then I gave it to my sister and she went and picked out a darling outfit for our new baby and wrapped it up. Here's the outcome and the reaction. It's pretty funny.

Santa Visits the Jacobs Home!

Here's the traditional before and after photos.

Before:

After:

Thank you for a great Christmas, Santa!

The Nativity

This Christmas Eve we had family over. Grandpa Boyd read the nativity story, Dereck was Joseph, Kate was Mary, Ava was Baby Jesus, Kiara was an angel, Uncle Lui was a shepherd, Grandpa Steve was a wise man, and I was a pregnant innkeeper!

Ava made a sweet Baby Jesus. When the wise man brought her a Rolo as a gift, she sat up in her manger to eat it. We're excited to have a new baby to play the role next year!

Merry Christmas!!!

Look Who I Caught Driving Down the Street

Draper Tree Lighting Ceremony

Draper City had a new event this year at Draper Park. It was very festive and fun. Ava could not get enough of hugging Frosty.

There were plenty of characters for photos ops.

The best part was when my mom tripped on the cord for this tree and the whole tree went dark.

Thanksgiving Feast with the Beasts

We have a fun tradition of going to the zoo on Thanksgiving morning. It's a good way to get out of the kitchen and into the fresh air. Kiara was a really freaked when a gorilla pounded the glass right by where we were standing.

That gorilla was not happy about his Thanksgiving meal I guess.

School Class Parties

Kiara played dreidel and won Starbursts!

Kate had a Thanksgiving feast with her whole class!

School Picture Disaster

We had our school pictures retaken this year. My sister said that Kate's picture looks like the cover to a Beverly Cleary novel.