Evans Family Christmas Letter

I don't send out a Christmas letter because we just jump on with my moms!

But I thought I'd write one here so our friends and family could get a detailed update of the happenings!

Alex

Alex is continuing to finish up his Masters degree in Civil Engineering. He's been working on the project aspect of it, and is scheduled to be finished by April 2014. He finished classes in April 2013 and immediately started driving. Alex chose to go back and work with his dad in the trucking company and will eventually take it over. He is passionate about improving the company and continuing to make it successful. This then led to us moving to Parowan, in June. Alex has loved being back in his hometown. He is so happy in what he is doing. He has also taken on a new role of a dad! He is incredible with his little girl. He is awesome at changing her, playing with her, sleeping with her, and bathing her. He has had a very successful 2013 year.

Becca

Becca coached lacrosse again in the spring of 2013 and continued to teach Teen Living at Lakeridge Jr. High. When the decision was made to move, she had to, unfortunately, walk away from her lacrosse team, which was a very difficult thing for her. She has adjusted to small town living and learned the perks of online shopping. She continues to do customer service for 2 companies in the mornings at home, and loves being able to work with her sister. She also started a job with the Utah Electronic High School teaching health. It is a great mom job! She has enjoyed being able to keep her license up. She is not out of the lacrosse life either. She is working with building lacrosse in southern Utah. She also accepted her dream job this year: MOM! It was something she always wanted and she is loving every blow out, spit up explosion, and cry fest. It really is her dream job.

Lucy

We found out we were expecting our sweet baby on February 28th. After first being told it was a boy, then being told she was really a girl, our sweet Lucy Grace joined our family on November 11th. She came into this world wide eyed and ready to live! She has been a great baby for us. She cries only when she needs something. She loves to move and kick her legs (no wonder Becca's ribs killed the whole time). She is the spit up queen! No matter how much she is burped she will spit up, then get the hiccups. She loves warm baths, especially when dad gives them. She has been a joy and a blessing in our lives and we are so grateful she is here.

We are so grateful for the blessings we have received and seen this year. We have had a great 2013 year and we look forward to see what 2014 has in store for us. 

During this season we can't help but think of Christ and his sacrifice. We are grateful for our knowledge of him and we know that if we turn to him we are blessed.

John 8:12

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Merry Christmas!

One Month

Baby girl is one month old (yesterday)!

12/11

Fastest month of my life. 

Some things about her:

• You are wearing size one diapers and 0-3 month clothes.
• You start at night with a 4 hour stretch, then a 3 hour stretch, then another 3 hour nap after. One night you slept 5 1/2 hours and mom woke up feeling like a champ!
• You don't cry much. You had a cold this week and it's the most I've heard you cry in your short life.
• You are quite the spitter. No matter how much we burp you, you manage to ruin an adorable outfit!
• You are starting to follow people. Especially your dad when he talks.
• When your awake you don't want to just sit in your car seat. As soon as we start driving you fall asleep!
• You have an incredibly strong neck. You lift it and looks around.
• You like tummy time but you get bored and fall asleep.
• You love your binky.
• You eat like a champ.
• You already went on your first road trip to Nevada and you are going to fly on a plane on Sunday.
• You can sleep through the loudest noises.
• You love baths, especially warm baths. Dad is the expert bather.

We are so in love with our sweet Lucy Grace!

11/11

Lucy's Birth Story

November 11th, 2013

9:13 am

7lbs 4oz, 19.5 inches long

I was scheduled for an induction on Wednesday the 13th. We pretty much assumed that would be the day we would meet Lucy because I had just been having the same random contractions that never got regular. I was pretty bummed because my mom had to leave the night of the 14th.

Sunday night I was having no symptoms of labor, just what I had been having lately. I was laying on the couch and then had to sit up because I had some uncomfortable back pain. We all went to bed. Alex and I just stayed up and spent time talking about how we met and when we were dating. We were laughing and reminiscing. Looking back it was the perfect night for him and I to share together before we grew our family. We chatted and laughed and joked about things we've done since we've dated and got married. We looked through old pictures and just enjoyed our time together. While laying in bed, my back started aching! I had to start practicing my breathing it hurt so bad. One came and then another came about 10 minutes later. Then I kept getting more and more. Alex started to time them and we realized they were about 4-6 minutes apart. I called the hospital and they said it sounded like labor, but to give it 30 more minutes. If it didn't stop, come on in. I was a little nervous since I had gone in a few weeks before for false labor. I turned on an Office episode and said I'd decide what to do by the end of the episode. I got 20 minutes in and couldn't take the contractions any more. 

We got up, packed our bags, and woke up my mom. I walked in and said "Mom I think we need to get to the hospital." She said, "Really?! This is so exciting!" And out we went! We drove into Cedar and I was having contractions about every 2-3 minutes. While we were driving I said, "If they send me home they better give me drugs because I can't live like this." My dear goodness I have never felt a pain so intense. It hurt my back so bad that I wanted to cry but was in too much pain to cry. 

We got into labor and delivery and they had me get dressed in my gown and all hooked up. I was still having terrible contractions. It started in my back and it made me nauseous. Mom was rubbing my back and Alex was holding my hand. I was dilated to a 4 when we came in. She had made progress! The nurse said they would call the anesthesiologist to get my epidural. I knew I could do this if I had an epidural coming. We were checked in by 3. By about 3:30 I was at a 6 and still waiting for my epidural. At 4:00 the anesthesiologist came in and started to get prepped. Only Alex could stay in the room with me so Mom went into the hallway. Alex sat in front of me and the anesthesiologist was behind me. They were prepping my back and Alex started getting sick. He started getting tunnel vision, started sweating and asked the nurse for a drink of water. The nurse looked at him and said "Do you need to go outside?" And he said yes! He was so sick! I knew it was bad because he wouldn't have left if it wasn't. He said later, that he couldn't stop thinking about a giant needle going into my back and it was making him physically sick. I did not even care at this point. I just wanted the epidural and I was just trying to get through each contraction. I had a big one and then the doctor put the numbing shot in. Had another big one and after that they put the big needle in. Thank goodness for that. The next contraction I never felt. I also felt like myself again! Happy and ready to meet her. They let my Mom and Alex back in. Poor Alex was GREEN! His face looked so sick. He sat down for a while and I chatted with my mom. We were just joking around and enjoying ourselves. I know it is peoples personal decisions to get an epidural or not, but I am so thankful I did. I was in so much pain I couldn't focus on anything else. After the epidural I enjoyed myself!

The nurse came back at about 6 am with a new nurse who would help me through the rest of the process. Our first nurse who got us in and all hooked up was Erin and she was awesome. Our new nurse was Kaye. She was great as well. They checked me and said "You're at a 7, oh no wait never mind now an 8!" I was progressing like crazy. Dr. Gatherum came in at 6:30am to break my water because my water was "bulging". He broke my water and I was leaking fluid like crazy. He left and I started with my nurse on pushing at 7am. The pushing didn't hurt, but it was exhausting. Considering I hadn't slept since the night before I was tired, but it became a competition to me. Alex would count to 10 and I would have to push the whole way through. I'd do this 4 times during the contraction. One time my Mom said one more and I'd only done 3 so your dad was wondering if I would keep going. And I did! I don't cheat. I wanted you her out!

Lucy's head was sitting on my pelvic bone for a while. The nurse said it's cause she was looking towards her Mama Jen. Apparently her head would come out during the pushing and then suck back in. I kept pushing for a while. At about 8:45 am the nurse had stepped out and told us to keep pushing during the contractions. I was pushing and Christina was watching. She said "Um guys there is a head coming out!" And Alex said, "Stop pushing! We need a doctor, we are amateurs!" Haha. I love him.

The nurse was came in and she called the doctor. I was pushing and she told me to stop. She was coming! The doctor was in at about 9am. The epidural started to wear off a bit so I was starting to feel some pain. We asked if I could push for more medicine and the nurse said Lucy would be born by the time it kicked in! I was so tired at this point. The doctor said push and I closed my eyes and just pushed with everything left in me. The doctor said to put my hand down there and feel her head! She had hair! Then we waited for one more contraction and again I pushed with everything I had. They told me to open my eyes and there she were! I couldn't believe it! 9:13 am. I started crying (happy tears!) because she were there. My baby girl came! She cried for a second and then they put her on my chest and she stopped crying.

They checked Lucy, cleaned out her mouth and nose, and let her just lay on my chest. I was all fixed up and I got to just hold you. After, they took her and bathed her. They did it in the room. Mama Jen and Grandma Evans watched her. Then everyone got to hold you!

Alex is completely in love. He held you and just stared at you. I couldn't believe the love in his eyes. I've seen him look at me like that but the way he looked at you was incredible. It was amazing the love in his eyes. Never thought I could love him more but watching him with Lucy made me love him even more.

They moved us to a room that we would stay in for the next 48 hours. We had a lot of visitors! Cami and Grandma were there right after delivery. Mama Jen and Christina hung out with us all day. Wendy and Nate stopped by during a break at school. Papa came and visited. Aunt Marie, Aunt Noreen, and Jamie came and visited. Cheryl and Ceci came and gave her loves. And she got to meet Lukey! He looks huge compared to Lucy. That night, her cousins Joshie and Tyler got to see you in the nursery and Jared came and held her too!

Labor and delivery was such an incredible process. I really didn't enjoy pregnancy much, but I didn't mind my labor or delivery. Maybe it's because I finally was able to meet my sweet girl.