Aiden's 1st Christmas

Seeing that our newborn was just that a newborn, he didn't seem to excited or interested in what Santa brought him this year.... next year should be more fun!

This year however was really great. It's the first year in many that all of us have been together for Christmas, sad to say it will be many more years till this happens again.

Anneke, Kris and Nicholas flew in from Boston. Mia, Bill and Aiden were home from the hospital. Gerry, Nikki and the soon-to-be Twin girls were down from Malibu, Nick was home from his mission, and Elise, Janette, Mom & Dad were here too!

I love my family so much and it was a great time spending this holiday season all together as a very LARGE and HAPPY family!

all the above pictures were on christmas eve at my parents the below pictures are of just my cute little family christmas morning before Bill had to work.

Bill's version of "where's waldo" poor Aiden....

Happy Christmas / Aiden's Annoucenment

family christmas 2011

The "Anderson" christmas party was in Oceanside this year on the 23rd. We actually had alot of family show up which was nice, plus i got to show off our new baby boy! This year was a little different than most, we didn't have our annual white elephant gift exchange. Its funny because i used to love that part of the family christmas party, but i can honestly say i didn't miss it one bit this year. Could it be because i have this little bundle of joy to keep me so busy... naw... its because of how horrible the gag gifts have become, I swear we have some gifts that have been in rotation for almost 10 years! scary right!

we ended up having a light dinner (thanks aunt pam) of hot sandwiches, salads and desserts. Spending time with family and catching up on every ones busy lives. It's crazy to think how much our family has changed in just 5 very short years. multiple cousins getting married and having babies, it feel like yesterday that we were all re-enacting the birth of Christ at grandpa and grandma Anderson's house.

Aiden's 1st Bath

Sunday December 11th Aiden had his first bath, and i have to say i think he really liked it! It wasn't as hard as i thought it would be to bathe this little guy he didn't squirm too much and having the puj tube to use in the sink was awesome (plus storing it, is easy). I was afraid he would scream or cry the whole time. Not only did he not make a peep, but he seemed to be happy about the whole experience. Auntie Lea was here and took some photos to document this occasion.

getting ready for the bath

unsure at first

out of the sink and into the towel

all clean

Aiden

Introducing...

Aiden Douglas Hughes

December 5, 2011 @ 9:18am

8 pounds 5 ounces - 20.5 inches

His Birth Story:

Sunday December 4th, Bill had to go to work so my mom came over to stay with me. I had some spotting and a few contractions that morning, so Bill felt "safer" if someone was home with me while he was as work. I was 38 weeks and 5 days into this pregnancy and i thought it would never end. I had been about 3cm and over 50% effaced since tuesday. I wanted this sweet little baby out of me.

While my Mom and I were watching a marathon of "BONES" I started having contractions up to this point I've had a few but they were very mild. Now they were getting stronger and coming about every 15 minutes. I'm not going to lie i was getting excited.... I thought "YES! finally this baby is coming!" But to my dismay, the contractions stopped all together around 8pm. Disappointed and frustrated I was going to bed, my mom left to drop off my dad and then came back over around 10pm.

At 11:01pm i was lying in bed and then it happened.... my water broke! At first i thought i just had an accident (wetting the bed) but i hopped out of bed and stood in the shower calling for my mom. She came in and i told her i think my water broke but wasn't sure. She said did it feel like a little "pop" and then water leaking out. Yes that's exactly how it felt. So we called Bill to tell him.

It took Bill about 20 minutes to get home he expected to find me in pain or stressing out, but no, he opens the front door and there i am dressed and calm, just finished putting away laundry and getting my hospital bag ready.

We arrived at Hoag at 11:45pm got admitted and and by midnight i was in the labor/delivery room. Now my contractions started to come at first i could handle the pain, I was trying to hold off on getting an epidural mainly because i was scared, but also because i had been toying with the idea on trying it natural.

By 3am I could barely breath through or in between contractions that i had Bill get my nurse and said i needed the epidural. I had a wonderful doctor who's quick and steady hands had that epidural in, in under 10 minutes. from that moment on i felt NO pain it was pure bliss. I actually slept the whole night with a few exceptions when the nurses came in to check blood pressure and dilation. Bill on the other hand didn't sleep at all.

3am- 3cm

5am- 6cm

7am- 9cm

8:30am- 10cm and baby's head already about to crown.

8:50am- started pushing

9:18am- Aiden was born!

I pushed for about 30 minutes and then Bill tells me we have a SON! My reaction was kind of funny. To Bill's announcement of having a boy all i said was "what, a boy?" his reply was "Yes, a Boy!"

my whole pregnancy i thought i was having a boy but then about 3 weeks before giving birth we had a 3d/4d ultrasound done and from then on i was thinking girl, i was a bit surprised!

I had one of the most wonderful birth experiences because i had my loving husband there to hold my hand and support me, my doctor made who actually deliver me and the two nurses who were there RN Nancy was my first nurse through the whole night and RN Ashley who actually started me on the pushing and cared for me and Aiden right after he was born. Those two women did a wonderful job!

Nursery Part ll

We finally got the baby's room all finished, and good thing too because it looks as though this little "Bean" will be joining us sooern than we expected.

Baby Hughes' Nursery

The Moon Night light was Daddy's choice.. works out perfectly

Rocking Chair and Changing Table/Dresser

Baby's Bookshelf

I just love how the nursery turned out. I know I will be spending many long sleepness nights in there, but i couldn't be more excited!

Baby Shower 101

My best friends Lea and Kelly threw me one of the most amazing baby showers ever! I definitely hit the jack pot in friendship with these two!

The cake was too cute for words, the decorations were unbelievable, and the party was full of family and friends. just what a shower should be!

Me and this baby (gender unknown) got spoiled. It felt and looked like christmas with all the gifts. I'm truly lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life.

The beginnings of the party. The cake and the "thank you" candy bar

The Backyard

"dirty diaper" game and opening a few things

my best friend and host Lea.

Group Shot

I had such a wonderful time at my baby shower and I'm so thankful for everyone who came to help me celebrate this new bundle of joy!

Pumpkin Carving 2011

It seems like since I've been pregnant we are behind on everything. It wasn't till Saturday night that we decided to decorate the house for Halloween and went to the pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin.

Halloween is probably Our favorite holiday. We both love to decorate for it and our main goal is to make it as scary as possible. We want our place to scare the trick-or-treaters!

After all the Halloween deco was up outside we decided to get some dinner pick up a pumpkin and spend the rest of the evening carving pumpkins. I think this years pumpkin turned out great!

We found a pretty cool pumpkin with some character. Bill has always played around "eating" the pumpkin guts....

Our Graveyard pumpkin the tombstones are for Bill and I and "The Bean". My mom saw that and said we're sick... Yes we are when it comes to Halloween spirit!

Hsu's Wedding

Henry and Marlene Hsu

Bill's buddy from work got married this weekend and we were lucky enough to be a part of the celebration. They both looked wonderful and in love. Congratulations Newlyweds!

The Happy Couple, Dave & Kate, Don & Brian, Mia & Bill

We didn't take a ton a pictures just a few of the people sitting at our table.

10 Year Reunion

I had my 10yr High School Reunion tonight. It wasn't a very eventful evening as the original plan fell through. We ended up having it at local sports bar in Anaheim. I was kind of disappointed because I was looking forward to seeing some old friends.

There was only about a handful of people that went and most of them i didn't even know or remember from high school. It's a bummer because i remember going to Bill's reunion and how much fun it was. Hopefully we have a 20 yr reunion and it turns out better!

Nursery Part 1

This weekend with the help from my family Bill and I were able to start on the Baby's Nursery. I've been wanted to get this room ready, so I could check it off the list but we had so much going on in September that we didn't have a chance till this weekend. (my Mom has been dying to get it ready since June).

My Mom, Sisters, Jenny & Elise, and I started the day off with painting the accent wall in the nursery. The color matches the bedding perfectly! As the four of us got to painting Bill and my Dad got busy fixing closet doors (they were so hard to open and close because of the new carpet) and shelves. They also had to go pick up the crib which came in finally!

The before and after pictures

After 2 coats of paint and letting it dry it was time for the men to put the crib together.  I know my Dad really enjoyed that. He's our Mr. Fix-it and loves doing projects around the house.

The men in the process of putting it together, Jenny helping by reading them the instructions, Mom got a little tired and bored! and the finished project yay!

Soon I'll have the whole nursery done, we are waiting on the dresser to come in and to get the few wall /art decorations up. As soon as that all comes together I'll post about the FINISHED nursery.

I'm so thankful for my family who always is willing to help out!

Thank you Dad, Mom, E & J

AVI 2011

This year we made it to the annual river trip. I didn't get to have as much fun as I wanted being pregnant and all.... I guess wake boarding at 6.5 months isn't the best idea....

It was a smaller group this year but still just as fun!

 

 

Lani & Robert, Bill & I, Cynthia & Arnold all hanging out at Pirate Cove for lunch.

The girls hanging out at the pool

 

The Beach at the AVI, Bill thinking he's a stunt man... on the JetSki and Wakeboarding

Dinner at the MoonShadow Grill our last night there.

Texans in Town! 9/16-9/20

One of Bill's long time friends Amy flew in for the weekend to come visit. Amy and her son Jaxson got here Friday afternoon and stayed till Tuesday.

It was so much fun having them in town! We had a beach day were her son threw sand EVERYWHERE and I do mean everywhere! We went out to her Mom's house for a BBQ, where they surprised Bill with a Birthday Cake. Bill even got in some practice daddy time.... which I think was good for him after all this little one will be here sooner than later!

 

32.

Bill turned 32 this year and he still gets to me like the day we met!

Happy Birthday Sexy!

Labor Day Weekend Cont...

On Monday My Mom, sister Jenny and I went to Babies R US see if they were having any good sales, We ended up purchasing my Crib and the Bedding for the Crib. I also started to make up a registry, after all in less than 100 days Baby Hughes will be making his/her appearance.

After the trip to "bru" the whole family went out to Gerry and Nikki's new place for some food and swimming. Let me just say i had mixed feeling about the whole swmming idea, on one hand i thought it would feel great to get some exercise in and have the baby weight lifted off me for an hour or so, but gettting into a swimsuit while pregnant..... beached whale is the only thing that came to mind.... it turned out ok!

The Grandparents just watched everyone swim but they seemed to have enjoyed it!

Michael, Elise, Janette, Mom, Dad, Nikki and Gerry hanging out in the pool!

Michael, Elise, Janette, Mom, Dad, Nikki, and Gerry.



Playing a few games in the pool, "Shark" someone has to stand outside the pool with back turned while everyone else tries to make it to the other side before the "shark" jumps in and tags them. My dad was undefeated. We also played a kind of volleyball game in the pool with a cheap blow-up ball hitting back and forth counting how long we can "volley" it without it touching the water, we made it to 101!