Our Sweet Julia Kate

On the day Julia was scheduled to be born we waited not so patiently at home for a bed to be available at the hospital. We finally checked in around 11. They started my pitocin at 12:20 and I immediately started with regular contractions at five minutes apart. Within the hour they were two to three minutes apart. I was given an epidural around 1 pm. I then dozed on and off until just before 4 pm. I woke up and asked the nurse to check me as I felt a lot of pressure. I was ready to push. JD had gone for a walk and so I called him and called my mom to come to the hospital. The nurse called the doctor and we hoped that the baby would wait for the three of them to make it. JD and the doctor came in and I started to push. My mom made it there just in time for Julia's grand entrance into the world.  



It is so funny to me that, after all the waiting, when I first saw her I just felt "oh, there you are." She just felt so familiar to me.  

Julia has brought so much joy into our home. We are all crazy over her.  


She is a great snuggler. We really try not rush the moments where she will melt into you. She is also a serious growler!


She is a very easy-going baby. She started walking just after she turned 13 months. Until then, she was generally very content to sit in the stroller and watch the kids play when we were on outings. 


She loves Macy and I love that they are starting to play together more. Macy calls her "Babe" and I think it is hilarious.


She loves to put the phone to her ear and have very heated conversations complete with a lot of pointing. She loves music and dancing.


The other day, JD and Macy went somewhere and Julia and I had some rare time alone together and it made me look forward to the one-on-one time we will have while Macy is at school and dance. (I get alone time every day with Macy while Julia is napping.)  

This picture is my favorite because this is a classic Julia face

The following is a letter I wrote to Julia on the day she was born:

June 22, 2010

Dear Julia,

You are just a few hours old and you have already taught me volumes about faith and listening to the Holy Ghost. Your perfect tiny body in our arms is a miracle and an amazing reminder of lessons I have learned during my pregnancy with you.

You were my seventh pregnancy. We lost three babies before Macy was born and two between her and you. I found in the early weeks of the pregnancy that my fears were far overshadowing the hope or joy I had that we would welcome another baby into our home. I went to my Heavenly Father and asked Him for a confirmation that this would be a successful pregnancy. In a quiet moment after days of this continual prayer in my heart I did receive the impression that all would be well. 

But a few weeks later the nurse called to tell me that my hormone levels were not rising and were not compatible with a successful pregnancy. She called on Friday and scheduled us to come in the next Tuesday to confirm by ultrasound.  At that moment, I chose to listen to her voice and not the voice of the Holy Ghost. I doubted myself and my ability to discern the Spirit and it made for some miserable and long days. As I waited to see a still ultrasound image yet again, I saw your little heartbeat on the screen. There are no words to describe how I felt to witness this miracle.

Later in the pregnancy during a routine ultrasound, we were told that you had a birth defect. As soon as the tech told us, the thought in my mind was “she does not.” This voice I know as the Spirit and yet, once again, I let doubt creep in. As I view your perfect body at this moment, I am again driven to repentance for not listening to the Spirit. We would have loved you the same but I am so grateful that you will not have to endure painful treatments to correct the condition.

The lessons I have learned from these experiences are for both of us. For me, I need to listen to the Spirit and I need to have unwavering trust and faith. Our Heavenly Father was patient with me, as I had to relearn the same lesson twice. Hopefully, I have it now. I will try to be patient with you as you are learning. I will strive to kindly teach and re-teach as you need me to as you grow and progress. And I hope you will listen too. Listen to the Spirit and listen to me and to your dad. 

You will save yourself heartache and some growing pains by following our Savior’s example and always striving to stay close to your Heavenly Father. As your parents, we will try to follow Their example so that you can follow ours.  My sweet baby, you are a miracle and we love you more than words can tell.

** all the newborn pictures and yellow-dress one-year-old pictures were taken by my sister Rebecca of Sweet Poppy Photography. Isn't she amazing?