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Easter in Austin

The month started off with a trip to Austin for Easter to visit Aunt Jen and Uncle Tony. We stayed at their place and visited a few people in Austin.

A funny story from Blakely: She really likes Tony and before I asked Blakely if she needed to go to the bathroom, in which she turns to Tony and asks if he wants to wipe her. I told her that is a mommy or daddy thing to do, then Blakely proceeds to ask if he will put lotion on her body. Which again, I told her that was a mommy or daddy thing to do. It was really cute.

We went to the Harwards and they had two easter eggs full of mini M&Ms. It was really cute how they thought about our daughter before we came out.

Grandma Jeanne and Aunt Amber Come To Town

We were lucky to have some family come to town! Aunt Amber and Grandma Jeanne came to town for a few days. It was a quick trip but there was plenty of fun.

House issues

Our power went off sporadically over the last few months and we just went out and flipped the main breaker but over the weekend it kept going off. So we called an electrician to have them look at it. Well… unfortunately our main breaker wire was corroding and it needed to be changed immediately. We worked with Bowman Electric which was super great at getting it done within a day so we didn’t have to find accommodations.

Last but not least, we went to a play a young woman was in. Willy Wonka. Blakely called it Mr Wonka and the candy factory.

Life is still magical.

Bronsons is doing great and Blakely is as bright as ever.

Dad is taking the lead on Blakely activities like swimming and gymnastics which is a nice break in the day for mom. We got some meals in Feb from the ward members but I am feeling well enough to start cooking again and start picking up the house. It’s nice things are becoming more normal and my body is feeling better.

Working part time for dad is a double edge sword. It’s great for our family because he is around to help more, but he does get stressed out with not being able to get all the work he wants to get done in a day. We talked about him going full time for a few days a week but when he approached his boss about it, Fred said, you should spend this time with your family. He works for a pretty dope company.

Life is at a beautiful pace. On St Patricks Day, we went and got a free mint shake at Jack In The Box and ate it at a playground. We usually don’t get ice cream so Blakely was in HEAVEN!

I am currently serving in the Young Women and they had a silent auction to raise some money. We bought a cool painting that Christian Jacobsen did, as well as a volleyball lesson from a YW. As we were cleaning up, Blakely was playing with some balloons and wanted to bring them home. We said they were not ours and Jeremy Morgan from the ward really didn’t want to bring them home to his boys so he said she could keep them.

She woke up that morning and brought them into bed with us, it was pretty cute.

Look who came to visit!

Oh man… Blakely sure loved hanging out with Uncle Jason. Jenni was asked to go to a “show” to buy merchandise in Dallas and Jason was invited to come along on their private jet. He drove down from Dallas on Tuesday and we spent the day together. He read to her on the couch for over an hour, then we went to the Mayborn museam, then finished the day at Cajan Craft. He got a Po-boy and we were a little jealous. We need to try that next time.

We weren’t sure if Jenni would be able to make it down but it turned out that they had time on Friday to come down and spend the day with us. We went to a BBQ place we like, then headed to Magnolia. Jenni wasn’t into it as much as I thought she would be but we still had fun.

A fun memory – as Jason and Jenni were walking with Blakeyly in between them, she would say 1-2-3 and want them to swing her up. They wanted her to count higher but she didn’t get the concept and would say 1-2-3-7!

Preparing for Easter!

We got a special easter box from a special someone who will remain annonomous. Thank you! Blakely loved it and so did we.

Last memory for the month, we are good friends with the Kennedys and they asked us to come watch the kids for a bit and we always spending time with them.

Next month is General Conference, Easter, and Grandma Jeanne and Aunt Amber coming to visit!

Bronson was born Feb 8th 2023 at 11:57. He was born at home in a birthing pool, weighing 8.7 pounds, 21 inches long, and got a 9.9 on the APGAR test. 

His actual due date was Feb 2nd and I really thought he was going to come early and quick (like his sister) but he decided to do things his own way. His due date came and went and I was here thinking… I am still pregnant and there are no signs that this little boy has any intention on coming soon. So I practiced patience and acceptance for this little one to come they way he was suppose too. I had some days where contractions came and went but nothing consistent. I went to my 40 week appointment and the midwives said, if we get to 41 weeks, then we will do an ultrasound to make sure everything is ok and go over some options. 

Well the 41 week (actually 40 weeks and 6 days because that is when it worked out to get the ultra sound) was here and Ben and Blakely came with me to the appointment. The ultrasound looked awesome and we even got a 4D smile picture out of him! I was feeling good all day and had a good feeling about the 8th! One thing different with this pregnancy, I felt a surge of oxytocin after the contractions.

I went about doing a puzzle, playing with B, or cleaning up a bit around the house. I was having contractions that afternoon that seemed to be picking up but again, nothing consistent. Ben took Blakely to gymnastics and I sat down to rest, which made my contractions disappear. A friend volunteered to take Blakely for the night and I am so glad she did! We said goodbye around 5:30 and went to go get some food. We decided on Chipoltle and I ate the whole burrito. I guess my body knew I was in for a long night. 

We got out of the car and walking back to the house I felt my water break. It filled up one of my shoes! I think I had a little rupture earlier that day but this was for sure a break. A little while later I lost my mucus plug and things really started rolling. 

After we ate dinner, we went on a short walk and had some good contractions. They starting feeling out of hand like I couldn’t focus on anything and would call for Ben for help when they started. I called the midwives and they headed over. I am not sure what time they actually got there but I think between 7-8. I remember just hanging out on the floor with the exercise ball calling for Ben whenever a contraction came around. 

They filled up the birthing tub and I think I got in around 9:45. The contractions instantly felt better, but they also died down. I remember feeling bad for the midwives and that they had to wait around. I know it is what they do but my previous experience was so fast. Ben sat by the pool in the kitchen and just rubbed my back and told me how good I was doing. I did my best to relax and let things expand as they needed to. 

Around 11pm I remember I started grunting and feeling the urge to bear down. I moved positions a bit but every time I moved the next contractions was really intense so I opted to just stay in one place. Not sure if that made labor longer… anyway. I remember calling out to the midwives and asking if I was doing it right and they just called from the other room “you’re doing it! “

I got into a squat position with Ben behind me, and really started feeling it. It was rough… I am not going to lie. The contractions were all about 4 minutes apart and I didn’t really have time to recover. I would get over one, and think, I got through this one… only to feel the next one start to ramp up. It was really rough. I remember saying I was scared and I wasn’t sure I could do this. But I also knew that I didn’t really have a choice at that time. I had to do this. 

I also remember thinking “please let this happen before midnight”. Mainly because I didn’t want to keep doing this into the morning. The grunting, pushing, yelling everything increased. I kept telling myself that it’s ok to slowly progress. 

Eventually I moved my hips around a little bit and the next contraction, Bronson shot out of my body like a rocket! I think everyone was surprised, including me! I didn’t feel any indication that I was almost done. He just shot out. He was for sure bigger than I had imagined in my mind. The midwife told us to be careful when he came out because he would be submerged and we wanted to be intentional lifting him out of the water and being careful not to get him close to the water line as I was exhausted. 

We brought him up slowly and I held him in my arms. I was for sure relieved he was finally here. I saw his neck and shoulder rolls and new he was a healthy baby.

They got a towel over him and poured water on the towel to keep him warm. When the towel got cold was the only time he cried. The midwives commented on his blonde hair which is for sure thicker and lighter than his sisters when she came out. 

Looking at the cord, it had a double knot in it! That is fairly rare and happened while he was a little guy swimming around in my uterus. It’s actually a beautiful picture. 

Ben cut the cord and they helped me into my own bed. You always forget about “the second birth” which is passing the placenta. I would push down but nothing was happening. The midwives didn’t pressure me and didn’t seem like it was a big deal but I really also wanted to be done. They suggested standing up or sitting on the toilet to see if gravity would help. I sat there and pushed a bit. I told her I felt like I had a bowel movement, and the midwife said, that is probably the placenta. So I pushed a little harder and the placenta shot out of me like a rocket (again) into the toilet. I was shocked as it felt like a whole other baby was in there! I didn’t see it but they said it was a pretty average size. 

I got back into bed and they had a needle out for me. I asked “what is that for?!” And they said, we are only going to use this if you don’t stop bleeding. They didn’t have to but I do wonder if me not getting the placenta out  sooner was stressing them out. 

I got an exam and found I did tear a bit. She used these Japanese sutures which were really painful and was instructed not to sit flat on my bottom for a few days. Easier said than done, but we are getting through it. They weighed Bronson at the end of the bed and found out he was bigger than we all expected at 8.7. Crazy! But he is a healthy strong baby boy. 

Ben and I fell asleep and the midwives packed up and left. They did a great job and were super helpful. 

Bronson caught onto breast feeding quickly and has had a bunch of bowel movements. He is opening up his eyes and cooing when he wants more milk or needs a diaper change.  Blakely is in love and doing everything she can to help. There is lots of assisted holding and kisses for Bronson from this little girl. 

Dad has been a champ and a rock this whole time. He has been super helpful and I couldn’t do this, or have done this without him. 

A lot has happened in these last few months!

First of all, January was better than December, that’s for sure. My girl friends from the ward threw a baby shower for me that was really fun, we finally got our dishwasher fixed and working, and I occupied myself with puzzles and listening to Harry Potter. I was in the last and final weeks of my pregnancy with Bronson.

We welcomed a little baby boy to our family! Click here to check out Bronsons birth story.

Blakely absolutely loves this little boy. Not one ounce of jealously or contempt. She gives him plenty of hugs and kisses. There was an adjustment period for everyone but for the most part, this time has been magical. Not sure how Blakely got cuter as an older sister but she is still such a joy. Bronson is a pretty easy baby. Doesn’t cry unless he is hungry or wants to know where mommy is. He also doesn’t love his car seat but hopefully he gets more use to it.

As for mommy, I am slowly healing and trying to take it easy with a toddler and a new born. The house is a mess but it’s just this stage of life. Nana J came for a week to help out the first week Bronson was born. It was a huge help especially giving Blakely the attention she needed as Daddy took care of mommy and baby. We are so lucky to have a Nana J!

February seems to be the month for birthdays. Bronson on the 8th, Blakely on the 15th and Benjamins is on the 21st. While Nana J was here we celebrated Blakely’s birthday with a special chocolate cake and played pin the tail on the donkey. As for Bens birthday, I arranged an outing with his buddies in the ward to go Axe throwing and they said they had a great time.

As time has gone on, we have gotten into more of a rhythm. Daddy is working part time which is a HUGE help. We sleep in, eat breakfast together, read scriptures then dad starts work around 10 and works until 2. By then mommy needs a break and a little nap. Then around 5 we cook dinner and have free time before bed. Before I would get really anxious if we didn’t have anything planned for the day but since I need to take it super easy, I have gotten use to being home and just enjoying this time together. Blakely does want to be held and carried around more. But making sure we spend lots of one on one time with her helps regulate her little (and big) toddler emotions.

While mom has been staying in bed, dad and Blakely have been walking around the block looking for coins. When she collects enough, she goes to the store and buys something. Well Grandma gave her $3 for turning 3 so she was excited to go buy something. While at the dollar store, she picked out a few toys and was at the register. She dropped the dollars and while they were picking them up, the lady in front thought she was so cute she just paid for Blakelys toys. It was an incredibly sweet gesture. We laughed that she gets so many free things in life because she is so dang cute. Not the best lesson to learn in life but we will still try and teach her to use her $$$ wisely.

Something else really funny that Blakely is doing is pretending to be pregnant.

So asking for us to get things for her because she “is pregnant” or that her back hurts is a common phrase. It’s really cute how she will pretend to go to the midwifes to get the baby looked at.

We have a few family members on the Nye side coming the next few months which is really exciting. Will keep updating!

To be honest, our December really wasn’t that fun.

This was the first time we have ever had Christmas with just our family and I really wanted to make it special. We bought a real tree, lights, ornaments and listened to Christmas music about everyday. It was magical until the middle of the month when we all got a tummy bug.

Blakely threw up in the middle of the night and Dad (MVP) helped her clean up and change the bed only to have her throw up again about 30 minutes later. The next day it was Dads turn to not feel well, and that night it was me. So we all took turns having our “not doing so well” time. Soon after, Ben had a sinus infection that seemed to linger. I thought my immune system was rocking it until I got sick to and it was worse for me. One night I was lying in bed and my ear started hurting. I tried to clean it out but over the course of 2 hours it completely closed off and even started to hurt my jaw.

So in addition to being 8 months pregnant and uncomfortable, I had a sinus infection and an ear infection. To make matters worse, I was also dealing with crazy restless leg syndrome at night. This is common in pregnancy and your body adjusting to the extra weight and stress. The best thing to do is to take it easy and to stay off your feet. Easier said than done!

It all came to a head on Christmas day. I didn’t sleep at all Christmas Eve and I was miserable. I tried to keep myself together for the morning while opening presents and making cinnamon rolls but I didn’t even go to church. Luckily, there is a lady in our ward who offered to give Blakely a horse ride which was pretty magical. It was actually a really nice day. B and Ben had a really great time and mom actually got a rest.

I decided to take things more seriously and conserving energy and staying off my feet. Since then things have gotten better and I have actually been able to sleep and recover from a cold. However, the sinus/ear infection took about a month to get over. So annoying…

Now onto the fun stuff!

Besides stay in bed, we did do a few fun things.

Blakely decided she didn’t love dance, so we switched her to Gymnastics which she is really thriving in. The teacher says “lets try this” and B will do it without hesitation. We also signed up for Swimming lessons up until May.

We went to something called Waco Wonderland. It was a Christmas themed fair. There was a tree lighting and fireworks! We figured fireworks in December was a much better idea than fireworks in July. In December they start at 6:30, and in July it’s about 10:30. It was pretty magical for B. She enjoyed herself.

We also went to the Zoo lights. We have a membership but for the zoo lights, they extend their hours and charge. It was a little expensive and a little underwhelming but this is coming from someone who grew up in Utah going to the temple lights every year. Again, B enjoyed herself.

We successfully avoided the Santa Clause conversation. And we really didn’t focus much on gifts. We got Blakely some swim goggles, toys, and that was about it. Ben got me a puzzle subscription which I am really enjoying. So satisfying for some reason. I got Ben an adjustable Kettlebell which he is using. So all in all, a successful Christmas season besides feeling so sick.

Next month is my 9 month mark and I am ready!

Hello and happy holidays! Here is the Beck update for the year 2022!

It’s almost been 2 whole years that we have lived in Waco Texas. This little town has grown on us. People are super friendly, lots of local events, and we are centrally located between Austin and Dallas. Stop by and visit if you are heading this way!

Card Table of Contents

• Blakely Updates
• Molly Updates
• Ben Updates
• Mardi Gras
• Arizona Trip
• Beck Family Reunion
• Fall Activities

Blakely Updates

This little girl is rocking it. She is a happy, smart, brave, and helpful little girl. Blakely loves reading, playing with friends, going to nursery, and doing anything outside. This year we did swim lessons and spent a ton of time at the pool. She also just started attending ballerina and gymnastics classes as a reward for potty training. She is looking forward to a baby brother and is excited to hold him.

Blakely Highlights

• Going to swimming lessons, and the Twin River pool (she loves the water).
• Playing hide and go seek with Daddy after work (and hide the light game).
• Going to the gymnastics(aka the jumping place) for open toddler time.

Blakely Low Light

• Blakely decided she wanted to try and climb through the hole in the back of the small primary chair and got stuck. She was ok, just a little scared.

Molly Updates

Molly loves being a mom. Even though some days can be long, there isn’t anything else she would rather be doing. She is now in the young women’s at church and enjoys serving the youth.

Molly Highlights

• Getting sealed as a family in the temple.
• Expecting a boy in February of 2023.
• Going to Mardi Gras with family.

Molly Lowlights

• We had a harder time getting pregnant this time around and had a few miscarriages, which was a bummer. These things happen but it is rough when you start making plans, then need to start over.

Ben Updates

Ben Highlights

• Getting sealed as a family in the Logan temple.
• Little man coming in February of 2023.
• New job as director of marketing at a grat company (Tortuga Backpacks check them out)
• Time in Utah with both sides of the family

Ben Lowlights

• Got hit by a car while doing a morning bike ride (I was fine)
• Learning he needs to really up his handy man game as a home owner
• Blockfi going bankrupt with what little crypto I had

Here are some fun things we did this year as a family.

February 2022 Mardi Gras

One of our favorite things to do is visit New Orleans Mardi Gras. This year we had a special treat with Kevin, Melora, and Haven joining us! We ended up camping which really wasn’t too bad! Something new we tried (suggestion of Kevin and Melora) was something called JAMNOLA. Interactive art which was super fun!

May and July Visits With Nana J!

We love grandparents! We flew to AZ in May while Ben was at a work conference, and Nana J came to visit us here in July.

AZ in May Highlights

Texas in July Highlights

Family Reunion In August

Every 2 years we do a family reunion on the Beck side. This year we rented an Airbnb at Bear lake and had everyone there! We spent a day at the lake with jet skis and plenty of time at the community pool.

A super special event happened where we were sealed as a family in the Logan Temple! Thank you to every who joined us and a big thank you to Cristyann Beck who did an amazing job with the photography.

Not sure if you can tell with some of the photos but we announced our 2nd baby (a boy) coming this February.

After the week at the lake, we stayed in Utah to visit with my family and had a great time with the Nye side.

Fall Activities

We love the Fall (especially after a hot Texas summer). Every year we like to throw a Halloween party for the kids. This year was a huge success with our friends here in Waco! We went to a few fairs where Blakely could get up close and personal with some animals, and had some family come out with Kevin, Melora and Haven for Halloween! So much fun!

Life will probably be a little slow for the first of the year with a new baby but we hope to travel internationally the end of summer. Fingers crossed we can!

Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Please leave us a comment on what’s new with you!