Catching Up...

Well a lot has happened since last I blogged. Nick and I lived in Holladay for 4 1/2 months and made some great memories.  We had a wonderful time with our great roommates.  Noel and Melissa were so fun to have around and the memories are priceless.  Christmas was so different and completely fun.  We picked out a tree and sang carols and made yummy cookies :) It was fun!

The rest of the time living there was seeing Zander grow.  He learned to go up stairs (not down), standing, walking, says dog and is just so darn cute! He really is a joy to have around and will always make his mommy and daddy smile.  Melissa was amazing at watching Zander and playing with him all the time. Out of everything the best part of living together was watching Melissa with Zander.  She was so patient and great.

In the middle of February we started looking at homes.  Many homes and many up and downs.  Finally we found the one for us!  We closed on a home around March 16 and moved in on April 16.  We have not taken pictures yet because we have a hard time finding the perfect time.  Plus next week we are getting our first PIANO!  I can't explain how excited I am to have this piano finally in our home.  I really want to be able to play hymns.

A week before the move I started working with Recommended Cleaning Maintenance.  I started cleaning a building in down town and I am so glad to announce that this is the last week I have to clean there.  There are two companies in the same building that I clean for.  The downstairs people are not fun to work for but the upstairs is a call center and although it takes a lot more time to clean I like it up there a whole lot more.  But I am being moved to a place in Bountiful and I hope it cuts commute time

With this cleaning job I have started listening to many books and I also wanted to share them on this.

"The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain.  So good.  The reader was great and the book was fun to listen to.  I recommend!

"Rather Outspoken" read and written by Dan Rather.  Very good!  I learned a lot about media and the hoops that have to be jumped to get things right.  It was frustrating to hear how much bureaucracy influences what, when, how, and where the news is or isn't covered.  But also good to hear another side of what has gone on in the world.  As much as I liked Dan Rather in this book I LOVED his wife!  I really look up to her and I know that she was a good woman who supported a man who wasn't much of a husband or father.  He was gone a lot a lot a lot!  I couldn't do it.  I recommend!

"Unsinkable" read and written by Debbie Reynolds.  So fun!  I was hesitant at first because I like her and didn't want to think less of her.  BUT... it was great!  I really like her and with her reading this book it was fantastic!  I like her even more.  I recommend!

"Frank" about Frank Sinatra by James Kaplan.  Didn't finish buy very enlightening but swears a lot and I couldn't do it.  Don't recommend.

"Heat Wave" by Richard Castle.  Didn't get into it... didn't get past chapter 1... Don't recommend.

"John Quincy Adams" by Harlow Giles Unger.  Boring... Don't recommend.

"Betsy Ross and the Making of America" by Marla R. Miller.  Didn't get into it... Don't recommend.

"James Stewart" by Donald Dewey.  Interesting but slow.  Didn't finish but liked the first part.  Recommend.

"Anne of the Island" by L.M. Montgomery.  LOVE!!!!  The reader is great!  I love the story!  I love it!  Recommend over and over again!

"The Partner" by John Grisham.  Predictable.  Don't recommend.

"Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand.  So great!  The reader was great.  The story is based on Louis Zamperini's experiences and life.  She did a lot of research and it was amazing.  It is very real and doesn't hesitate in descriptions.  I loved the end.  I recommend!!!!

"Seriously... I'm kidding" read and written by Ellen DeGeneres.  Funny and creative.  Very light and easy to listen to.  Recommend.

"Gandhi" by Mohandas K. Gandhi.  Interesting but LONG.... didn't make it far in this book.  Don't recommend

"Audition" by Barbara Walters.  Interesting and good but I didn't care after a while.  I want to listen to her father's autobiography.  He sounds interesting. Recommend maybe...

2013

Nick and I have had an amazing year.  Nick worked at Conservice for 2 1/2 years but left in November for a new job in Salt Lake City. In our Logan ward he was the Clerk and did the best job ever!  He became a dad this year too and has enjoyed every moment.

I quit my job a month before Zander came so I could get ready.  I was serving in the RS Presidency and became President in May.  It was a great learning experience and I really did love the women I served.  Zander and I have become best friends and we enjoy making each other laugh.

Zander was born on June 6, 2013 8lb 4oz and 21" long.  He is happy most of the time and very adventurous.  Here are a few of his milestones for the year 2013

Birth/Month 1 - hold up head

Month 3 - rolls onto tummy, first haircut

Month 4 - crawling (pushes with back legs), scoots

Month 5 - first two bottom teeth, says dadadada

Month 6 - says mamamama

Most of these pictures are most recent to not as recent.  I just got the videos working so I hope you enjoy!

 Shopping is so exhausting...

 Zander's Christmas outfit

 Merry Christmas ho ho ho

 Bounce-a-bounce-a-bounce

 Happy Halloween

 I love my Daddy

 I can even say Dadadadad... cuz he's my favorite

 He makes me laugh when he tries to eat me.... So tasty!

 Car ride with Barrett, my best friend!

 Playing on the floor!

 Trying to crawl without using my arms... it is kinda hard, you should try it!

 On a walk with my friend Barrett again, this time I tried to stay awake.

 Daddy likes to fall asleep when we hang out.

 Look!  I can roll over!!!!  I am so smart.  Now don't leave me alone on the bed anymore.

 I like to visit Dad at work and pretend to be an accountant.

 Thanks to Grandpa for giving me a teddy bear that I can nap with.

 So happy with Daddy!

 My blessing outfit Grandma Zollinger made for me.  I look so good!

 Taking a nap in my favorite spot!

 Change that!  This is my favorite spot!

Wait... This is my favorite spot!  With my Dad!

The Birth Story of Zander James De Filippis

Well… I don’t really know where to start.  Where my due date was June 2^nd from the doctor and the 4^th from a website I was using by June 5^th I was a little antsy.  I really wanted to have this wonderful child and experience becoming a mother.   That afternoon Nick and I went to lunch at The Center Street Grill and ordered a spicy BBQ sandwich.  I had heard that spicy food can help start labor and Nick’s Co-worker said they ordered this sandwich and had their baby that night.  We enjoyed it very much and when I got home I took a bath.  After my bath (4:00 pm, Wednesday, June 5) I felt a trickle and thought maybe my water broke.  I called the hospital to ask what to do and the nurse said to take an hour walk.  So I decided to walk to A&W and back to the house.  While walking I felt a little more liquid and called Mel and Shayla to gain some insight into what was going on.  When I got to A&W I got a small Root Beer Freeze.  I love those.  Then walked home and all the way I was timing my contractions.  3 to 4 minutes apart and I thought I was doing pretty good.

                When I finally got home I checked and I was indeed wet.  So I called Nick and told him I thought he could finish work and sometime this night we would be able to go to the hospital.  We were both so excited and ready to welcome Zander into the world.  I called mom too and I am pretty sure I heard her cry on the other end of the phone which started me crying when I got off the phone.  I think it just hit me how my life was about to change and we were going to be taking care of another human being.  9 months and finally we were going to become parents.  It was scary to think about.

                I searched on Netflix to find a show that might make me laugh and distract me from the contractions.  Nick got home right when I started “An Extremely Goofy Movie” and we watched it together.  It was funny but the first part of that movie Max is going off to college and Goofy remembers back on his memories of Max growing up.  I just broke down!  I couldn’t stop crying because we would now be going through all this too.  Watching a child grow up, start school, teach them how to ____, see them graduate, go on missions, get married, it was all just so overwhelming and I didn’t want to miss any of it.

                At 7:00 we went to the hospital.  We were all packed, my birth plan ready to follow, and lots of energy and excitement.   We made one extra stop at Jamba Juice on the way there.  I got Orange-a-peel I think and Nick got Passion Fruit something.  Then we went to the hospital.  We were put in a room and checked to see where I was at.  Frustratingly enough I was still at a 2 and they couldn’t confirm that my water did break.  I had been sick for the past few days and when they took my temperature and I had a bit of a fever.  They started the IV and monitors and put me on some anti-bionics.  The contractions continued and at 8 I was dilated to a 3, at 9 I was at a 4, and around 10 I was at a 5.  I was stuck at a 5 for a few hours.  During this time we enjoyed (in-between contractions) watching Duck Dynasty.  The nurse said that we had a few options to see if it would help us progress.  Pitocin, Doctor could break my water, I could walk around or just wait longer.  We tried walking around and had no success.  Around 2 or 3 my doctor really wanted me to take the pitocin, but I said no and would rather have my water broken.  The doctor wouldn’t let me get in the tub because of my fever and if my water was broken they wouldn’t let me because of infection. 

                Well, before she left her home my water broke.  Now I know what to expect/feel.  It is really like a quart of water that just comes out.  Wow!  I had about 3 different gushes and I felt there was a bit of progress.  Around 6 I was progressed to an 8 and the contractions were getting a lot worse.  They were so close and getting stronger.  My doctor came in and said how this was her day off and I would have to work with the doctor on call, Dr. Benedict.  Honestly I think that is why Heavenly Father had me wait till Thursday to have my baby.  I haven’t been too happy with my current doctor. 

                The nurse checked my when I got to an 8 and said, “I don’t think your water has broken yet.”  What?!?!  How is that possible?  We waited for an hour or two debating on pitocin or having the doctor break my water, or just wait.  The pain was almost unbearable and I was scared of both options because I knew it came with a stronger pain.  Finally nothing was progressing and I was getting really tired.  I asked the doctor to break my water.  When he did it another huge gush of water came.   Along with that gush came stronger contractions and a ton of more pain.  Nick had been a huge support through the whole thing.  He kept telling me how good I was doing and how much he loved me.  It was exactly what kept me going.

                I think it was around 10 am Thursday, morning when the pain was so strong that I couldn’t handle it.  My legs and arms were shaking so bad I couldn’t relax my uterus.  It was so scary.  This is when I started praying out loud.  It occurred to me that the only person who could actually take away the pain was Heavenly Father and so I kept saying, “Heavenly Father, please help me” “Give me strength” “don’t leave me” “Show Zander where to go” “Please help me relax.”  I kind of felt silly talking out loud like that but at this point I really didn’t care.  I also realized that I never want to have another child ever again.  I told Nick I changed my mind and I don’t want a baby.  I wasn’t sure if this was all worth it.  Finally after 20 hours of labor, I gave in and said, “GIVE ME THE EPIDURAL!  FAST!!!!!!!”  The doctor came in and had to give me the epidural during contractions because they were so close together.  He did a fabulous job and within 10 to 15 minutes the pain was getting better and I wasn’t screaming any more.  I was screaming quite a bit and felt bad for anyone who could here.  I found out later that my parents were in the room next to us and could hear all my groans and moans and screams and crying.  I can only imagine what they went through as well.

                From 12 to 2 we were instructed to just relax.  Nick and I both got naps in and felt better after.   Then for the next hour and a half I pushed during contractions and finally Zander came into this world looking GREAT.  Honestly he was perfect.  I was prepared for an ugly baby, discolored, and mis-shaped.  But he was great!  We got an hour with him and then I left Zander and Nick with the doctors to run some tests because I had the fever during labor.  I went upstairs and hung out with mom, dad, and Mel.  About an hour and a half later we found out that Zander had to stay in the NICU.  It was so depressing but we were hopeful that he could come home quickly.  We ended up staying until Tuesday morning.  It was awesome coming home and now Zander and I are doing a lot better.  Nick and I are so happy and excited to watch our baby grow up.

                I know that I wanted to go natural and I did all that I could to accomplish that, but I am also very grateful for the health professionals and the epidural that was used to assist in helping me have Zander.  I am sure at some point I will be able to forget the pain and will want another baby… but not too soon.

 Melanie took the above photos.  She did a great job!

The little white cone on top is his IV from when he was in the NICU.  Jenn took these photos.

Pregnancy photos

Well... I don't know what weeks these were and I feel funny posting pregnancy pictures but here are the two I have... and I don't know how to flip them.  The bottom one was a while ago and the top one was taken about 3 weeks ago... I think.

Activities for the new year

Nick and I have a hard time deciding on what to do on our weekends so I had the brilliant idea that we should have a theme for the week.  I thought the Alphabet would be the easiest to keep track of and think of things to do.

The first week of the year was the letter "A" and so I made an amazing apple pie.  It was really good!  We were going to play Apples to Apples but we didn't have enough friends to come play.  We tried watching a movie that started with the letter "A" but it wasn't worth watching past the first 15 minutes.  It was called "Abduction" and it was really bad, so don't watch it.  We ended up watching "Sleepwalk With Me" and really liked it.  It was funny.

Last week was the letter "B" and I made a Banana Cream Pie.  It was really good and we added strawberries and raspberries to the top and I really liked that!  We watched the movie "Battleship" with some friends.  I really liked it.  It was cheesy but good.

This week we are on the letter "C".  I have been looking up desserts to make and think I am going to make "Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies"  They sound yummy.  We are also going bowling the Claytons (who are the couple we do most things with).  They are a lot of fun.  I should be taking pictures to go along with these posts and will try to do it from now on.  I am also posting my recipes on the Z's Home Cookin' blog for those who want to read them.

We'll-have-a-baby-itsa-boy

So today was the big day!  And I guess there really isn't a lot to share except IT'S A BOY!!!  Here are some pictures to prove it.

So here are his two little legs and in between is his.... proof :)

This is of his face and he is sucking his thumb.  He has cute little fingers!!!

I think this is of his profile of his face.

Nick and I are so happy and so excited!  We know he is part of our family because even the ultrasound doctor called him a Turkey (which is one of Nick's nick-names)!

Nick felt the baby!!!!

So I am sorry that I am not really interested in posting pictures of myself as I grow heavy with child but here is a little special story that I wanted to write down before I forgot.

On Sunday Jan 6, 2013 our church started at 9... which means that we get out around 12... which means Sunday afternoon naps are a must.  Well this past Sunday we thought we should have nap time (practicing for when the baby comes ha ha).  I have been feeling movements from the baby for the past week now and I thought maybe this time Nick would be able to feel it too.

After about 5 minutes I felt something and asked if he did too but he didn't.  But the next one he did... we think.  I am surprised that I can't always tell if it is the baby or not.  I also thought that I would have an inkling as to what gender this baby might be.  So far I have dreamed both ways and really have no idea.  I feel like it is an active baby ("S/he's gonna be a soccer player").  Tomorrow we find out as to what the gender is.  I am scared that we are going to have a very private baby who is a bit shy.  Ha ha, s/he got that from Nick :)  Mostly everyone has guessed a boy, so I think that is what I am expecting the doctor to say.  Ahhhh!  I am excited!