Announcement....

 So guess what . . . I had the baby!!  I went into labor on Thursday, July 28th at 3:30 am.  The contractions were too heavy for me to sleep, but didn't really hurt. So I labored until the contractions were really, really heavy, and at noon I went to the hospital.  I was only dilated to a three, so they made me wait until I was a four to give me anything to curb the pain.

I always heard that labor was awful, but it was worse than I ever imagined.  Wow.  The good news is, at 3:00 pm they gave me my epidural and the pain ceased that instant.  (It normally takes about 15 minutes to kick in, but the anesthesiologist felt bad for me and gave me something extra to make it work fast).  The epidural was the most wonderful thing EVER - for a moment I think I loved the anesthesiologist more than I loved Sam!   Anyway, the rest of the labor was wonderful.  I felt a slight pressure when I had contractions, but never hurt.  The worst part about pushing was having to hold my breath!  Anyway, the baby was born at 7:02 pm.  She weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.   We named her Seara Kaye Ricks.

 I got advice to doll up for pictures, and remembered seeing others looking to exhausted right after their babies were born, so while I was at home waiting for my contractions to be heavier, I took a shower, did my makeup, and fixed my hair all cute.  The pictures didn't turn out half bad!

Final Countdown

I am due next Sunday, July 31st, and I CANNOT wait!  Neither can Sam - every time I call him at work he gets all excited because he thinks I'm in labor. Unfortunately, I haven't had any signs or progression that I know of.  I feel perfect!  I keep trying to have the baby, though.  On the 4th my little brothers helped Sam and I attach three hoses to the trampoline so that they sprayed right on it.  Then, we all got in suits (I have the funniest maternity suit, you would laugh so hard at me!) and jumped on the tramp for like three hours.  Needless to say, that had a big effect on the baby.  She lightened (that means that she dropped down so that her head is now lodge between my pelvis and her bum and feet can no longer squish my ribs), then I started contracting.  I had contractions two minutes apart for two hours straight, and almost went to the hospital - but then they slowed down.  I was so disappointed! :o)  Since then nothing too dramatic has happened.  I guess I need to go trampoline jumping again!  We're all ready for the baby to come, too.  We have a little apartment, just two bedrooms, but I've already set one up as a nursery.  I have the crib all ready, with pajamas laid out and everything.  I have baby clothes all folded and prepped, diapers and wipes set out, you think of it - I've done it.  Now she just needs to be born!

New things going on in my life

Big news -- we are buying a car tomorrow. CRAZY, huh?! We've payed a down payment and will pick up the car tomorrow.  This is our old 2001 Ford Focus, we are getting a silver 2003 Toyota Corolla. We can't wait!

Our other exciting news is that Sam and I saved up and after a TON of deliberation and price hunting, we bought a new video camera! We didn't have a digital photo camera, so we figured that it would be wise to get a camera that had both video and picture capabilities. So, I just took my first digital belly pic. Pretty big, eh? I think it's funny how skinny the rest of me still is. I haven't changed a bit! The great news is that I am due in less than two weeks and still have no stretch marks! Hallelujah! (Notice that I am taking the photo with a remote control in my hand, ha, ha!)

4th of July

For the 4th of July Dad & Mom took the kids to Stadium of Fire, and since Sam had never been and really wanted to go, I got us tickets for Father's Day.

Heber Creeper

This last week Sam and I got free tickets for a ride on the Heber Creeper. You board in Heber, ride down Provo Canyon to Vivian Park, and then come back. We had a fantastic time!

My belly was its biggest at this point because the baby hadn't lightened yet (it got smaller after that), but since the photo is straight on, you can't tell. You can see, however, that I have no waist now - so strange for someone that used to be only 22 inches around!

Graduation

Well, I just graduated in Human Development, and also got my first 4.0 ever at college!  I made a goal first semester freshman year to get a 4.0 at BYU, and after six 3.9s I really sat myself down and worked my head off.  (Mind you, I do not only get good grades.  There are a few semesters I'd rather not talk about . . .) Anyway, the point is that I had a HARD finals week, and am SOOOO relieved to be done with school!

I am now 7 months pregnant, pretty crazy, eh?  We figured with me graduating, it was pretty good timing.  If we wait until he's done with school we may never have kids!  We're really excited.  It's a little girl, due at the end of July.  I want to name her Seara Kaye Ricks (Seara is Portuguese, which I spoke on my mission to Portugal; Kaye is Sam's mom's name).  However, Sam hasn't decided if he likes that yet, and since he has ultimate veto power, I'm waiting.  I also like the name Rilee, but Sam thinks Rilee Ricks sounds dumb.  I guess we'll see what happens when she's born!

6 Months

Six months pregnant and feeling awesome!

Halfway There!

I am now five months along and my pregnancy has been going well. I haven't thrown up, or anything like that, but I have felt very tired and weak. The last two weeks I have had bronchitis, and that hasn't been fun. Luckily the baby is fine, even if I felt like I wanted to die! I'm feeling better now, but still haven't made it back to my classes at the Y.

Life here is busy. We're coming up on the end of the semester, and Samuel and I have way too much to do. I graduate this semester, so I only have three weeks left of school!! I am really excited. It's the perfect timing, because I'll finish school and my job at the MTC three months before the baby is born. So I'll have time to get everything ready.

Did I mention that the baby is a girl?! I am so excited, and already want to run out and buy cute clothes. We're not certain, but I think we'll name her Seara.

Valentines Day

We just celebrated our very first Valentine's Day as a married couple! We went out for a steak dinner, then stayed at the Castle Creek Inn in a mideaval room with a hot tub. It was so much fun! I don't have any pictures, but I do have this one from family dinner with the Bennetts on Sunday.