A Home Birth

40 Weeks

If someone had told me five years ago that I was going to have a home birth, I would have thought they were crazy. But, alas, here I am.  With my first child, I chose to birth at a free-standing birthing center. I loved the prenatal care I received from my midwife and we were happy with our birth experience. So when we moved to Utah and got pregnant with number 2, we wanted a similar experience. Well, out here in Vernal, our only options were home birth with a midwife, travel three hours to the closest birthing center, or use the local hospital-without a midwife.  Not having to get in the car during labor was very appealing, and we found a midwife in our area that we were comfortable with.  Thus began our journey for a home birth. My midwife has a strict nutritional approach to pregnancy and birth. She has her clients cut out flour, sugar, carbonation, dairy, and a few other things. She also puts us on a supplement and prenatal tea program. It was an interesting pregnancy especially during the holiday season.

Well, we were expecting this little one to come late like our first who was almost two weeks past the “due date.”  Our baby’s due date was slotted for January 15^th and I thought I would have the baby the next weekend.  I woke up at 1:45 AM on January 17^th and realized that my water had broken. I just started laughing because I couldn’t believe that I would actually be going into labor. I wasn’t feeling any contractions when I woke up Scott. We talked about whether we should go ahead and call the midwife. Around 2:15 AM, we finally called and my contractions slowly started while talking to her. She showed up at our home maybe an hour later.  My contractions were about 2-3 min. apart. I was dilated to a 4, which I was excited to hear.  However, my labor slowed down so everyone took a nap while I made trips back and forth to the bathroom, with little progress. I was feeling anxious about what we were going to do with our 2 year old. He is highly sensitive so I didn’t want him to be around while I was birthing a baby. My mother-in-law (who we had planned on taking our son) was out of town with her daughter and 2 day old grandson. Around 5:30 AM, we finally called Scott’s dad who was getting ready for his morning temple shift. His dad was more than willing to help us out. He and our son are best buddies. He got out of his temple shift and took the day off of work-what a relief! We had him come get our son around 8:30 AM, which is when my labor finally kicked into gear.

I spent a lot of time lying on my side on the bed working through contractions with Scott pushing on my back. I was finally dilated to a 5 and I decided to get in the bathtub for some relief. I love being in the water while I labor, just wish I owned a bigger bathtub.  My contractions were getting more intense along with my back pain. I really hate the back labor.  I got out of the bathtub and was still dilated to a 5. I labored a little more on my bed then finally ended up on the ground kneeling down and holding onto Scott. My back pain was getting worse especially my tailbone. After awhile, the midwife checked me and I was at an 8.  I then had five really intense, painful contractions. I told Scott that I was done. My back was killing me. I started to feel the urge to push so the midwife checked me and I was at a 10; I was so happy to be able to start pushing. While on my knees, leaning into Scott, I started pushing. After (for me a quick) 45 minutes our little baby emerged at 12:15 PM. We were excited to see that we had a sweet little girl. She was a little blue probably because her short cord was draped around her neck and wrapped around one leg, but a little oxygen took care of that.  She weighed 7 lb. 4 oz. and was 19 in. long. She is healthy and just a little angel. A little while after the birth Scott said to me, “You did it, we had a home birth!” My response: “oh yeah, I guess we did.” It seemed so normal to give birth at home. I didn’t feel anxious about being at home during the whole birth experience. I am grateful that everything went smoothly and I didn’t even have to get in the car. I am so happy that this birth was about a third of the time of my first.  A couple of hours after the birth my mom and sister made it into town.  I loved having their help.  After a little rest, we had Scott’s dad bring our son home to meet his new sister. What a sweet meeting. I love how he says Bridget’s name. He loves his new sister.

Pratt's New Look

"Yeah! I am going to be a big brother in January!"

Vacation to Daddy's Birthplace

Yep, Daddy was born in St. George, Utah, and aunt Mellie recently moved there with her new hubby Colby, so we decided to go visit June 18th-20th.

First stop, Warm Springs, in between Vegas & St. George. A small oasis of palm trees around a warm spring in the middle of nowhere, and the church has built an awesome recreation area there. Our ward campout in April was there, but we didn't know at the time that Elder & Sister Dansie were also there doing a senior mission! They're Daddy's second set of parents, he half grew up at their house playing with their son Jonathan.

They fed us an awesome lunch and told us about what a Warm Springs mission was like. It was great to meet them, and Daddy loved catching up.

On to St. George! This was in the Christus room at the temple visitors center. It gave Mommy good memories of the Christus room from the Hill Cumorah visitors center in her mission.

Here we are in front of the temple. I was having a blast, just glad to be outside. I saw where Daddy lived when he was first born, too. It's right across the street from the temple and chapel here. He says he doesn't remember it though, they moved when he was 1 year old.

Aunt Mellie showed us an awesome park with a bunch of water. It was right near the tabernacle. I love water, I wish I had been in my swimsuit!

Saturday night we went to a park by Colby & Melanie's place. Colby grilled up some burgers while we played! It was sweet, I really liked the swings.

St. George was a pretty cool place. I think I'll probably take Mom & Dad there again sometime.

California Trip Part 2

It didn't take me long to figure this place out - this place is crazy! Mom & Dad took me to some place aptly name Goofy's house. Look at my eyes; do I look entertained?

Then Dad goes to show me the washing machine in Mickey's house. I really like the one at home because I can watch it slosh the clothes around, I think Mickey's might have been broken...

We went on some "Small World" ride after that... As you can see by my face, all I could think is "why do all these rides involve sitting in a boat and drifting helplessly downstream?!"

Afterwards it was all cool though, no more worries on this little boys face! It was like stimulation heaven, and I'll probably be singing "It's a small world after all" for weeks.

I sucked on a piece of apple while most everyone else went on Space Mountain, I guess it's not my type of ride.

While you may think I'm a little young for all this, I almost fell asleep on Pirates of the Carribean & The Haunted Mansion. Overall though, I loved it all. This day really wore me out. I didn't know Mom & Dad knew how to play so hard, they're usually so boring at home! It must have been Grandma, Grandpa, Tom & Serena that made the day so fun!

That's my first trip to California. I think it's a good place, for a couple days; I was ready to go home.

California Part 1

Mom & Dad took me on a long boring car ride through the middle of nowhere and then said "Hey Pratt, we're in California!"

The first place we went with Grandma & Grandpa Hardy, Uncle Tom & Aunt Serena was Ruby's, a burger joint out on a pier above the water. I tried to get to the food the whole time but Mom & Dad kept holding me back!

It was my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean, and all I could think is "That is one sweet awesome bath tub, let me in!"

Out in front of Ruby's; yeah, it was a lot more fun on the inside, can you see how crazy the wind was? I told Dad to hurry up and take the flippin' picture!

As if standing on a pier with a huge crosswind wasn't enough, everyone wanted a photo op on the beach! I did have more fun than it looks like I did though. I was just being dramatic for the camera :)

Finally we went to our home base for the next couple nights. It was a sweet vacation home. We're on the back porch now, looking out toward the ocean. In the top left corner you can even see Ruby's out in the distance!

The next day we went to some place called Disney Land...

To Be Continued

Pratt's First Camping Trip!

Last weekend was our ward camp out...yep, in April. The glories of living in Las Vegas. It was at Warm Springs, an LDS recreation area an hour northwest of the city.

Yes, we are "camping" on a grass field with an oasis of palm trees next to us. A little different than the Uintah Mountains where I grew up, but very cool.

Pratt's first time being in, or even seeing, a tent. Incidentally my first time in a tent since we've been married, at least 4 years or so. Janae thinks it's been about 15 years for her!

When I said it was at an oasis, I wasn't kidding. There's a warm spring, and they've built a huge pool out of it. So here we are, swimming at night, on a camp-out, in April. I love this place!

Pratt has never been in anything larger than a bathtub before, but we had a hunch he was going to love it. Don't mind the funny face he made, there was a lot of new stuff he was taking in!

Who would have guessed you could throw a few blankets down on the floor of a tent and the little first timer would sleep like a baby (Yeah, I know, easy pun). Of course he was snuggled between Mom & Dad, so he woke up a happy boy.

Pratt: "I love camping!"
Editors note: You think he got his mommy's eyes?

We had a blast, it was great to get out with some of the awesome folks here in our ward. There was peach cobbler and s'mores at night (courtesy of the Downey's), and an awesome breakfast spread (courtesy of the Elders quorum). And I can't forget the Liu's, who provided a pup tent for our little family to sleep in. It all reminded me of growing up camping, and knowing that I've got to keep the tradition as we raise our little boy.

Our Little Helper

Pratt has learned how to help us with all sorts of things...

Here he is organizing our lids.



He loves unloading the dishwasher.



And his new favorite, helping with the laundry.

Can you stand on a belt?

Pratt can. He stands on my belt all the time, I'll prove it.

I started out here holding him facing up over my shoulder, but he immediately stands on my belt and twists around sideways.

Look Mom, one foot!

Ta-Da!
Simple yet hilarious, he does it like clockwork.

Of course an elaborate trick like that wears him out.

Our Favorite Little Boy

Personal news: I finally got my business license! After all the step by step things it took to get to this point, I'm now a 100% legit health care provider in the state of Nevada. While I could put a picture of the license up, that would be boring, so here are some more of our favorite little guy!

Nope, that's not a huge booger dripping down his lip...that's the rice cereal that never got eaten. Acts like he wants food, but I don't know if he's actually gotten any down yet.

Pratt loves playing on the counter...the danger...the excitement...I guess we shouldn't let him get used to it.

Sitting inside a box...yep, best thing since Christmas.

Yanking up on Daddy's nose when he should be giving me a head scratch.

That's more like it.

Hope things are well for you all!

Pratt's Utah Trip

Yep, Pratt and Mommy went to Utah from the 12th to the 17th, leaving Daddy all alone (that would be me). I was relegated to evenings filled with no-brainer guy movies and the Wii.

Fortunately they came back with some great pictures

Pratt doing his thing...just kind of sitting there looking cute

Helping Mommy unload the dishes

Early B-day dinner for Mommy at Zupas. Yes, I love the place as much as her, and no, I wasn't there. Non paid shout out to Zupas, if you haven't been there yet GO. It's awesome.

He's lovin' that inflatable B-day cake. Remember when I got the cake? He was sleeping.

The 4 Generation Picture: Great Grandma Hardy, Grandpa Hardy, Mommy, and Pratt!

4 Generation again, including Uncle Nathan and Cousin Elijah

The Glorious 2nd Amendment

While in Utah last fall, I wanted to take Janae shooting since she had never been. We lucked out & the sporting goods store in Vernal had an event at the shooting range where several different vendors had their whole line up of firearms to use. You would buy tickets, turn them in at the tables, and whichever gun you wanted to shoot determined how many rounds you'd get. Can you spell FUN?!

Here's a little clip of Janae nailing the target with a handgun. Before this day she hadn't even shot a BB gun, but there she shot 3 pistols (.22, .380, and 9mm) and a 20 gauge shotgun.

Now that Janae had been shooting there weren't any excuses left. We purchased our very first firearm, under the tutalage of Grandpa Brady. It's a Smith & Wesson 9mm M&P compact, and to make it really fun it has a Crimson Trace laser sight on it.



Janae and Pratt were visiting family in Utah most of this week, so that left me with some time to take it shooting for the very first time. Although I'm the last guy in our family to get into guns, I can honestly say it will be a great hobby!

Pratt's 1st Sunday in a Shirt & Tie

We're sporting the new "My Pal & Me" ties Grandma gave us for Christmas! This kid is totally GQ!