California Adventure

We made it. It's a miracle. We are now in our apartment in Los Angeles. There are boxes everywhere, and we can't use our stove top or oven for over a week (because I forgot to schedule the gas guy to turn it on), but we're are here, and finally have a computer! So here's the story: I am a total procrastinator and didn't start packing until Friday, which was actually Friday afternoon because I went shopping with my mom in the morning. We were packing up and loading the trailer until after midnight, and then woke up at 5:00 am to leave for LA. Nathan and I were each driving our cars, mine with the two babies, and then Nathan's dad was pulling the trailer with his suburban. Everything was going fine until Nathan and I stopped about halfway, so I could feed Mason and get gas. This is about the time when he got a call from his dad saying the transmission on his car was shot, and the car was basically useless. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, Nathan's battery died and I had to jump him, and then as he was pulling out of the gas station, he called to check on his dad and got a ticket for talking on his cell phone while driving. Apparently it's illegal here. The cop had to jump him again, and then Nathan was on his way. Well, since Nathan couldn't stop his car with out needed it jumped, it fell upon me to stop at a bank to get the cashier's check for the apartment. I stopped in a little city, Indio, along the way. After driving over five miles, I finally found a bank. I got my two kids out of the car, having to carry them both because Julia didn't have any shoes (apparently we packed them all), and walked into the bank. There was about 15 people in line in front of me. After waiting for about 10 minutes in line, I decide to make sure I can even get a cashiers check here. I couldn't. So, very frustrated, I left that bank to find another. I finally found one of my banks, and headed inside. Unfortunately, though, I got the dumbest teller ever! She had to re-do my check 3 times! The first time she never even asked me how much I wanted it for and just made it out for the entire amount in my account, and the second time she made it out to me from the apartment complex. Finally the third time she got it right, but only after I'd wrestled with Julia for 45 minutes in the bank. And then I still had to drive another 2 hours to LA, and since our little detour lasted longer than it should have, poor Mason was ready to eat again before then. But he had to wait, because I wasn't stopping again.
Once we got to our apartment we were able to meet up with Nathan, who was able to get his car a new battery before we got there. Nathan's dad was still over two hours away with his broken down car, and my dad was on his way up from Arizona to help out. My dad eventually got to him, but by that time, Nathan's dad had decided to just buy a new truck. So he hitched the trailer up and got to LA after midnight, and me dad headed back home. I felt so bad for both of them, but so blessed that Nathan and I have dads that would do so much for us.
Well, at least between unpacking, and getting stuff with our apartment all settled, we've been able to have some fun. We've been to Disneyland twice, and visited the beach (we are only about 5 miles away).


At the pier in Santa Monica. This place is pretty cool. There are roller coasters, food and games.

First two weeks!

We made it two weeks! Mason had his two week birthday on Sunday! Now I have been told that I need to post new pictures of Mason, and update the blog. I'll start with letting you know I am enjoying very much being a mother of two. I didn't know if I could love another child as much as I love Julia, but the second I saw little Mason, I loved him just as much! He is such a sweet baby, and has such a mellow personality. Which is great in contrast with Julia :) Julia is a very loving big sister. She is very concerned when he's crying and is constantly showering him with kisses. I still have to watch her around him, though, because she really likes to touch his eyes. And when I'm nursing, it's like a free for all, since she knows I can't get up and get her. For example, today while I was nursing, she got into our fridge and ate two yogurt cups and four peppermint patties. When I was done nursing I had to clean chocolaty-yogurt fingerprints up from everywhere.
Mason has been to the doctor three times since we left the hospital, and the doctors say he is perfect, healthy, and growing very well. (Of course I already knew he was perfect) His first doctors appointment was on Nov 6th, and he weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. Then he had his two week appointment on Nov 14th where he weighed 8 lbs 9 oz and was 21 1/4 inches long. The doctor was amazed that he grew 20 oz's and one inch in just eight days. Then I had to bring him in yesterday, for something else, and they weighed him at 8 lbs 15 oz. He grew another 6 oz's in just three days! It makes sense, though, b/c I feel like I'm constantly feeding him. I'm very happy he's growing so well. I had so much trouble with Julia nursing at first, and she was so tiny. It relieves a lot of stress knowing that he's eating plenty. And he poops ALL the time! I have gone through two and a half packs of diapers already! I know this might be TMI, but he poops after I feed him, and then sometimes when I'm changing his diaper. We've had to wash our sheets more than once since we got back b/c of him going poop while changing him. It just shoots out! Very gross. And I forgot to mention in my last post that my normal doctor wasn't on call when I delivered, so I had the on call doc deliver Mason. That doctor happened to be Dr Partrich who also delivered me almost 24 years ago! How crazy is that!

These two pictures are for my friend Jennifer. She wanted to see pics of my hot baby ride. I LOVE my stroller! I highly recommend it. It has so many options. This is the toddler/newborn option. Once Mason's a little bigger he will be upright, and the seat Julia is in will click underneath, rather than on top (like in the picture I have on my stroller post)
Julia always wants to hold him and kiss him. She looks a little scary in this pic. I hadn't gotten her dressed or brushed her hair yet. I move slowly these days :)
Tummy time for Mason. He is so much cuter in real life! I need to work on my photography skills (I have none)


My very good friend Jenna got married this weekend, and Mason came along for the party. Here's Meagan looking beautiful in her bridesmaid dress. And then below, Nathan and I (not looking as hot as Meg)

Eventful Weekend

Well, now that we're home and starting to get the hang of things, I thought I'd put up some more pictures from our eventful weekend. Thank you to all those who left your sweet comments and texts. I appreciate all of my friends' and families' love and support! :)
We'll start with Halloween. Friday night, Nathan, Julia and I went trick or treating with my family and some friends. It was really exciting for Julia. She kept saying,"candy!" and then "aarg" before she proceeded to hit the poor person with her foam sword. She was really into the whole pirate thing. It was such an awesome costume. Thanks to my friend Catherine for letting her borrow it.
After trick or treating we went out to my friend, Melissa's, Halloween party. Jon and Kara were dressed as pirates, too, and Julia and Jon had the exact same costume! It was pretty funny.

The next night was my friend, Meagan's, engagement party. Even though it was the day after Halloween, we were asked to dress up. I decided to be Sarah Palin, and Nathan was Michael Phelps. I felt like we did a pretty good job on the costumes. Nathan had a good time making all of his gold medals.
Well, while we were at the party is when it all started. I was sitting on the couch watching the game and talking with friends, when I decided to get up to go to the bathroom. I felt like my bladder was almost empty and gave a little push to try and get out those last few drops when I felt a big pop and then another gush of fluid, as if I hadn't gone pee yet. I wasn't sure what had happened, so I just finished up as usual and washed my hands. I dediced to ask Meagan's mom about it (she's an RN), and she said if it was my water breaking I would still feel leaking. After talking about it for a while, I decided to get up and fill out my card for Meagan's party before I forgot. As soon as I stood up, I felt the leaking, and then water started to run down my legs. I freaked out and squated down to try and hold it in so I wouldn't leak on my friends carpet. They ran and got me a towel, and we went out to the car to go to the hospital. Since we were so close to home, we went there first so I could change out of my Sarah Palin outfit and pack some stuff for the hospital. Once we were on our way to Chandler Regional, the contractions started. Luckly they were only every nine minutes, so I got a ggod break in between. When I got there, I was only dialated to a four. But by four am I was at a ten and twenty four minutes later our healthy baby boy was born!

New Baby!!!!

Hello everyone--this is Jodi, Kassidi's mom, and she asked me to update her blog to let all of you know that she had her baby. Kassidi's water broke Saturday night around 8:45 or so, and she had the baby at 4:24am on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008. Everything went great, and both mom and baby are doing fine. Kass and Nathan named the baby Mason Lewis Jeppesen. He weighed 7lb 11oz, and was 21" long. Baby Mason is beautiful (but then I'm a bit prejudiced), and Julia seems excited about having a new baby brother (at least for the moment).

ABC tag

A. Attached or single? attached
B. Best Friend? Nathan
C. Cake or pie? cheesecake
D. Day of Choice? Sunday because I know we don't have to be anywhere but church and home
E. Essential Item ? carmex
F. Favorite Color? green
G. Gummy bears or worms? doesn't matter
H. Hometown? chandler
I. Ideal Vacation? one with beautiful weather, friends and/or family and no worries about how much it costs!!!
J. January or July? January
K. Kids? Julia, and soon baby Mason
L. Life isn't complete without? The plan of salvation
M. Marriage date? July 17, 2004
N. Number of brothers/sisters? 4-bros and 3-sisters
O. Oranges or apples? Oranges
P. Phobias? heights
Q. Quotes? I can't think of any, but I've been hearing a lot lately "God helps those who help themselves"
R. Reasons to smile? I have a healthy family
S. Season of choice? Fall or spring
T. Tag some people: Kara Barnes, Heather Peck, Cathrine Griffith and Jodi Stapley
U. Unknown fact about me? I can't think of anything. I've done enough of these tags that my unknown facts are no longer unknown :) Maybe people don't know that my dream job growing up was to be a marine biologist, and I was so serious about it that I wanted to change my name to Marina. I still think it would be a sweet job, and I love the ocean.
V. Vegetable? Asparagus
W. Worst habit? Gossiping (before you judge me, you know we all do it)
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound
Y. Your favorite food? pizza
Z. Zodiac Sign? Sagittarius

Baby Boy Shower!

Thursday, my friend, Taya, threw me a baby shower! It was so fun and she is so sweet for thinking if me :) I'm so grateful for all my friends that made the drive out from the east side!
and I'm so happy to have been able to see all of me friends from the west side!
I got some cute clothes, Kara made a super soft blanket, Taya gave me some of her awesome baby accessories from Jonesy baby, I got diapers and wipes, Cheyenne made a really cool cake, and I got some other good necessities (binkies, receiving blankets, cash :).
Nathan's mom. She's excited for the baby to come :)
I had to throw this picture in here, too. Julia got into my sister's lipstick, and even though she did get into trouble, I thought she did such a good job I had to snap a few photos ;)

Daddy's Visit

Nathan was able to sneak away for a week, and we were sooooo happy to see him! He was such a big help with Julia, and it was so nice to have my best friend back! I don't know how army wives do it for so long!!! We were able to spend the week visiting friends and family and just hanging out. It was great! I had to take him to the airport yesterday, though, and I am already so sad he is gone. Only four more weeks and he'll hopefully never have to leave again :)
His first day here we attempted to take family pictures along with some maternity photos. It didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Julia, as most of you have heard before, does not do well with pictures. We were not able to get any good family shots, well, maybe a few with some good editing, but we did get some fun ones.


And here are a few shots of my big ol belly.


I've decided I could never be a model. It was so awkward having pictures taken of me by myself. Hopefully after the baby's born we can get Julia to sit still for a few pictures for Christmas cards.
So Nathan's in Virginia now and will be home sometime before Nov 2nd. I'm hoping he'll be home by Halloween for two reasons. One, I'd like him to be able to go trick or treating with us b/c he missed it last year (he was on rotation in New Mexico) and two, it would be awesome to have the baby on Halloween, so of course I would want him here for that :)