Pinning Ceremony

Last night the school had a pinning ceremony for the interns who are graduating from being a junior intern to a Senior intern. Devin had mixed emotions about going because of some of the ways the administration has been handling things at the school. Long story short he decided to go. He only has two and half quarters left which will be roughly 6 months. I am so proud of Devin and all his hard work. I pinch myself all the time because I cannot believe he is almost done with school. I am also proud of him for sticking up for something bigger then himself and then putting aside his convictions when asked to do so. Congratulations Dev, Nola and I love you Lot's.

Soon to be Dr. Devin J Simpson

This is his" Ok Honey I am done with Pictures" face





I didn't have the best spot for pictures but this is Devin shaking Pres. Brimhall hand.

3 months

So I vowed I would not be one of those mom's who only posted about her kids all the time.

Mostly because I know there are a few of you who do care to still hear and see how Dev and I are doing, but here are some updated pics of Nola. She is almost 14 weeks old now and I can't believe how fast time has already gone bye.

Nola

Devin's sister Tiana took these pictures for us of Nola when we were home for Christmas. I am not one to brag, but she really is amazing you should check her out at www.tsimpsonphotography.blogspot.com or her website at www.tianasimpson.com

Thanks again T. We love you lot's!

Freezing Time

I was sitting in Relief Society on Sunday and I had an overwhelming desire to just freeze time and the scene and remember it in my heart. Since Stopping time is not something I can do I decided to write it down so I can remember it years from now. My neighbor and Friend Heather had her little boy Jackson with her in Relief Society last Sunday. Heather leaned over the row and hinted that she would like to hold Nola. So as she was holding Nola Jackson was entertaining himself by helping his mom entertain Nola when he turned around and gave me his signature thumbs up with his big Jackson grin on his face. It made me smile, but the overwhelming desire to stop or slow down time had me fighting back some tears that started to make their way out. I remember thinking when moving away from Utah that someday it would be hard to move away from Oregon. Well it will be and it won't be, but I will miss the friendships we have made here so much. Thanks Jackson for being such a sweet little boy!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

We had such a nice Christmas vacation. I always look forward to being home and I am sad when it's over. Santa spoiled our little family and we got everything we wanted and needed. Nola survived the cousins kisses and noise, Aunts and uncles holding her all day and Grandma's and grandpa's spoiling her rotten. My niece Payton calls her "Baby Cola". Tiana took some pictures of her while we were home and I can't wait to see them. We blessed Nola in Star Valley and it was a perfect day. Thanks again to everyone for making it special and to my family who drove up from Utah to be there to support us. It was so special to see all our brothers and our dads bless my little girl. ( PICS TO COME) We are glad to be back in our own beds and to have Nola back on a schedule..... Well Sorta! Devin has just started his 10th quarter of school. I can't believe we only have about nine months left here in Oregon. Where does time go? We are excited to be closer to family again, but with that we leave friends and memories behind so we will not wish this nine months away to fast!

My favorite Picture taken while were home. Quinn giving Nola a kiss. SO SWEET!

Fun in the Snow in Star Valley

Connor doing what the Simpson Blood in him tells him to do. PUSH SNOW!

Taryn, Connor, Devin and McKenna going for a sled ride around grandpa's place.

Yep your are not seeing things that is my baby girl on that sled with her daddy. Devin was so excited to take her for her first ride I just couldn't say no.

And what do you do after playing in the snow all day? Lay in front of the fire place of course.

NOLA

Tender Mercies

I know the heavens didn't cover Portland in ice just for little ole me, however the results canceled church today and this new mom really needed to catch up on her sleep.

Lack of Pictures

So a few of you have given me crap for not posting pictures of Nola, but truth be told I haven't wanted to because the little girl won't cooperate. Even in the womb she proved difficult to take pictures of. She always has her hands by her face or she is asleep or she is screaming her head off. Anywho here she is.

This is dad thinking he is funny.
Ward Christmas party. She is crying.

Screaming while Santa is holding her.

There is our baby.

Giving Thanks

It's not Thanksgiving to me without reflecting on the things that I am grateful for. I am grateful for so many things. Every year the list is pretty generic, family, friends etc. However, this year I hope to be more specific. I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who finally allowed me to know what is feels like to create and love something unconditionally. I am grateful for Devin and his willingness to get up with Nola so I can rest just 20 minutes longer and for giving me such a beautiful baby girl. I am grateful to my Mom who has spent the last few weeks here with Nola and I. I am grateful to Dad who let her come up and is now here helping us. I am grateful to Kelli and Jami who are having Marie Calendars for Thanksgiving so Mom and Dad could be up here with me. I love you guys. I am grateful to Mom Simpson who has been busy sewing blankets, a car seat cover, and Nola's blessing dress ( it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen). I am grateful to my Nurse Cyndi for all her help in the hospital. She was with me the whole night while I was laboring with Nola. She even stayed after her shift ended to see Nola be born and to stay with me. I am sure she will forget me, but I won't forget her. I am grateful to Carly, Bethany, Ericka, Hayley, Sis and Bro. Stone, Emali and Heather for bringing us dinners. I am grateful to all of you who have sent your congratulations and love over these last few weeks. We appreciate you all so much. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

The Master's touch

As a new mom you have so many questions. At the hospital I was surrounded by different opinions and ideas. The lactation nurses told me no Binky's and no bottles while I was nursing it will cause "nipple confusion". So with all these opinions and ideas of hold her this way don't hold her that way I came home with many ideas and things on my mind. Nursing was a breeze in the hospital. Nursing at home was awful that first day. Nola lost 10.4% of her weight in the hospital. She left weighing 6.8. The cut off to let babies go home in 10.5% . So her not eating was extremely upsetting to this new mom. After waking my mom up at 4:30 in the morning with tears rolling down my cheeks mom comforted me and said " Crystal I know what they have told you to do, but this is what I did with all of you kids and you turned out just fine. Mom's way of doing things has gotten Nola to nurse whenever I want her to, drink out of bottle and use two different types of Binky's in her short 5 days of life. I am pretty sure my baby is not nipple confused. My point to all of this is sometimes books and experts don't know what your baby needs. Sometimes it lies in a Master's touch. Someone who gave birth to 6 children and knows how to meet each babies individual needs. I am so grateful this week to my mom and her patience with me and Nola. Love you mom.

NOLA JEAN SIMPSON

Nola Jean arrived at 7:49 in the morning after a long night of no sleep. She wieghed 7 lbs. 10 oz., was 19.5 inches tall, with lots of dark hair.

Change of Plans

Yesterday at work when the day was coming to an end my co-workers started making comments about how big it seemed I had gotten over the weekend. So out of curiosity I had my co-worker Matt scan me for an estimated fetal weight. To my astonishment and that of my midwife who is also my co-worker Matt's numbers suggest Nola has already reached 8 pounds 6 ounces. After hearing that report it seems as though Nola will be coming earlier then her due date. If all goes according to plan I will report to the hospital on Thursday night.

SSSSIIIIGGGGHHHH

I went to the spa today. Need I say more?

Audacity

One of my patients today had the audacity to tell me my job was easy. She came in and told me how she went back to work a week after having her baby and how hard her delivery was. I am not sure why she was telling me this. I think she wanted me to be like wow you are amazing. I listened patiently right up to when she said "but your job is easy". I stratched my head and said" you think taking care of you guys is easy?" Here is the kicker everyone she works in fast food.....yep her job is tougher then mine. You mean you had to go back to work, not you chose to go back to work, and my job actually requires an education and thinking. WHATEVER?!

Showers

I have had a couple more showers since my trip home in September. I had one at work and

one here in Portland with all my friends. We have been given so much. Now she just needs

to get here safely so we can put to use all the wonderful things we have been given.

Shout out to Julie H whom is responsible for this

amazing cake. Thanks again Julie. I loved the cake.

Thank you Penny, Haley, Carly and Lindsey.

Work Shower

My work shower was so fun. My co-workers spoiled Nola and I. We got clothes, toys and our pack-n-play. My favorite gift was for me the mom to be. The midwife I work with got me a spa package. I cried. I am so excited to use it.

One of my co-workers made this scrap book for Nola with her name on it. The pages are all done. All I have to do is put pictures in it. Now that is my kind of a gift.

Devin and I are so grateful to all of you who have helped us in preparing for our little girl.

We truly are blessed to have so many of you in our lives. Nola does not yet know

what is waiting for her in all of you.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE LOVE YOU ALL!

I love this time of year.

I love the fall when the air starts to cool off and the leaves change colors. The air is crisp and it has a distinct smell. The heat lifts and you feel like you can breathe again.

Wake Boarding

Devin and Jared

Jared the "PRO"

Devin

Jared doing one of his flips. The feature on the Camera

I loved was the sports feature that was able to capture

his entire flip.

Just a few of the pictures we took playing with our new toy.

Still so much to play with and learn.