tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82331193294906467752024-03-14T06:42:09.407-06:00ADVENTURES OF THE STEEDOSamysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-60100425330542240142018-01-29T21:10:00.000-07:002018-01-30T07:26:21.696-07:00Welcoming Elizabeth Grace<div style="text-align: center;">
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Who knew that this blog even still existed? I guess writing about the birth of a child is something that most people would write in a journal, but let's be honest - typing is way faster for me, and this way I can share Lizzies birth story with whoever else cares to read it. I guess you could say I'm a birth story junkie, and I figure there are a few others out there too who love a good read. It's a bit of a novel, but here we go!<br />
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I guess maybe I'll just backup a little bit. I found out I was a pregnant with Elizabeth in February-ish (I think?) when I was about 6 weeks. Halfway through week 7 I started feeling sick, and boy, did this pregnancy knock me off my feet! I've decided that this is when the terrible twos start - when mom gets pregnant with the next baby and lets the toddler do whatever they want! From about week 7 to week 14 I. Was. Miserable. I spent the majority of the day in bed, and Hazel got a lot more screen time than I like to admit. We were in survival mode. We lived on crackers and jello, and a whole lot of Doritos. Healthy, right? In fact, I remember going to my doctor's appointment at about 10 weeks and laughing when she handed me the healthy eating pamphlet. The idea of a healthy, well rounded diet sounded great, but at that point I was just aiming to get calories in my body. During those weeks I would move from my bed to the couch, and then back to my bed again, bucket by my side. A few times I debated whether or not we needed to go into the hospital for fluids because I was having a hard time keeping water down, but luckily we never had to do that. Brandon was such a trooper during those weeks too, and really stepped it up with taking care of Hazel. He would come home from work every day and take her to the park so she could get out of the house and I could get some rest, and he always made sure that my Dorito stash was well stocked. At about the 12 week mark, my friend Andrea took me into the clinic where she worked and did an ultrasound on me, and we discovered that I was actually only about 10 weeks, which I'm not going to lie, was a bit of a disappointment. Only because I was counting down the days until I could feel like a normal human being again, and those extra couple weeks seemed like an eternity! I'm pretty sure I told Brandon multiple times throughout my first trimester that we were only having two kids, but luckily we all survived and the sickness went away!<br />
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Well, second trimester cruised right along, and we got to the 28 week mark and the dreaded glucose test! Truth be told, I actually don't mind it, and I didn't even think twice about my diet leading up to it. I went to a Relief Society cooking activity the night before the test and taste tested all the different foods, then began my fast and went in for my bloodwork the next morning. A few days later I received a phone call from my doctor's office saying that I needed to come in to discuss some blood work results, but that it was non-urgent. I figured they would want to see me right away if it was gestational diabetes, so I was a bit shocked when I went to my appointment and found out that I had failed the glucose test by 0.2. Anything 8.5 and higher was considered gestational diabetes, and I was an 8.6. Well then the drama came. At that point, my doctor, who was an Obstetrician at the hospital for 20 years but had gone into family practice for a lifestyle change, told me that she needed me to be seen by the obstetricians at the hospital. And normally, that would not have been a big deal at all, but because we are not permanent residents yet and don't have Medicare, we were going to have to pay $350 for each hospital appointment (whether it was with a doctor or with a midwife) versus $85 per appointment with a family doctor. In a bit of a panic I called the hospital to see what their normal protocol for Gestational Diabetes patients was, and they informed me that I would need to be seen at least every 2 weeks by a doctor and then weekly after 36 weeks, have regular dietician appointments (also $350 each), and that I would have to have at least 2 extra ultrasounds and then be induced at 38 weeks. So having gestational diabetes meant that this baby was going to cost us a LOT of money and I was basically going to live at the hospital having appointments! I also knew that being induced before your body was really ready for labor increased the chance of an emergency c-section, and I was afraid of that happening too. Basically I was a mess. I would like to say that I stayed super positive about it all, but the reality is I turned into a bit of a drama queen for a few weeks. I can laugh about it now, but at the time I felt like I went through the whole grieving process – denial and wanting my doctor to repeat the test, anger at myself for not taking care of my health better, disappointment and feeling like my body had failed me, and after a lot of fear and stress and tears, I finally came to the acceptance stage. And now that I'm on the other side of it, I can say that it really wasn't that big of a deal.<br />
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With all the stress of the diagnosis, I started to research my options. I looked into going through the private health system, which would have saved a lot of money in appointments, but if my delivery ended up being complicated, it had the potential to rack up quite a hefty bill pretty quick. So we decided to stick to the public system and just see a private dietician. To be honest, the whole thing was a bit of a gongshow with a lot of back and forth about who was supposed to see me and when, so finally I just borrowed a glucometer and started taking my blood sugars 4 times a day on my own. I was super strict at first because I was afraid of showing up to the doctor with a list of out of control blood sugars, but after a couple of weeks or so of only one or two spikes, I felt like I knew what foods to stay away from and that I could finally relax a little. I ended up seeing one of the obstetricians at the hospital who was so super helpful and understanding of our situation, and he offered to see me free of charge as Brandon was on his obstetrics rotation and worked with him often. That was seriously such a relief! My blood sugars were pretty stable, with only the very occasional spike, so I was basically treated like any other normal pregnant woman – no extra appointments or scans, and no need for an early induction. Thank the heavens! Seriously I was so relieved. <br />
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As my due date got closer, I started to feel a little bit panicked to be honest. When I was pregnant with Hazel I felt like I had prepared fairly well mentally, but this time around I had hardly even thought about the whole labor part until the very end! On Thursday, October 12, I went to my 39 week appointment and had a rather uncomfortable stretch and sweep, and my doctor offered to break my water to get things going. I think that's when it hit me that this baby could come soon! I wasn't in a rush to have a baby in the next 24 hours, so I decided not to go for it, but as I left, he mentioned to Brandon that he thought I'd have the baby in the next few days. <br />
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On Sunday, October 15, our branch was having district conference out of town, so we just went and watched a 2 hour video broadcast for church. I was joking with my friend Rachel that I was going to go home, take a nap, and then have a baby that day. On our way out of church, Brandon was visiting with a couple that was visiting from out of town, and came back to the car to tell me that he had invited them over for dinner. I'm not going to lie - I was less than thrilled to hear that. I was exhausted and not in the mood to entertain, let alone cook a big meal. Brandon suggested that we could just pull the enchilada freezer meal out and cook them up, and my hormonal self was even less impressed with that. Didn't he know that I made freezer meals to feed my family when I had a baby, and not some strangers?! haha. Ohhh hormones. You make me so crazy. Well that afternoon we came home, made some lunch, and then Brandon sent me to go take a nap. I laid down about 2:00, and about 3:00 I woke up having some fairly consistent contractions. At that point I wasn't sure if they were the real deal, so I started timing them and they were about 3-5 minutes apart, but mild enough that I could still walk and talk through them. At about 4:00 I noticed things were getting a little stronger, so I got in the bath to relax a little bit, and that felt like heaven! I'm a girl that loves bath on a regular day, and the warm water did wonders for helping me relax. About a half hour later I got out of the tub, still having consistent contractions, and told Brandon I thought this was the real deal. He was on his obstetrics rotation at the time, and knew that shift change was at 8pm, and he figured that would be about the time that we would need to go into the hospital. In the meantime, our guests had just called to see if the invite for dinner was still open, so Brandon gave them a call back to politely tell them we may have to reschedule. haha. I finished packing my bag and a bag for Hazel, and sent a text to Rachel to see if she'd still be free to watch Hazel. <br />
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Because I was induced with Hazel, I wasn't totally sure when we should go into the hospital, so I gave them a call to see what they thought. They suggested waiting until the contractions picked up a little more, and said that they could still die off tonight. Well I sure hoped that they didn't die off, because by that point I was getting fairly uncomfortable and having to focus through my contractions, and the thought of going through all of that for nothing was not an option in my books. I knelt down next to my bed and swayed my hips back and forth to get through each contraction, and by this point it was 6:30 and we decided Brandon should go and drop Hazel off with Rachel, who lived just up the road. When he got back, we packed up the car (or should I say Brandon packed up the car while I breathed through contractions) and made the 15 minute drive to the hospital. Not the most comfortable drive I've ever done. I remember thinking multiple times how I needed to relax and just get into the zone, and I searched through my phone for some relaxing music that would help me with that. <br />
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When we got to the hospital, we parked next to the after hours door and made a mad dash to get inside before another contraction started. When we got to the labor assessment area, there was nobody in sight, so Brandon headed off to find someone while I paced the hallway to get through another contraction. Then we moved into the assessment area where we were met by our midwife, who said she needed to put me on the monitor for 30 minutes and then she would come back and check to see how dilated I was. Well, that lasted all of about 5 minutes. With strong contractions coming every few minutes, there was no way that I was going to lay flat on my back on a stretcher for 30 minutes. After a few minutes she decided to just check me and I was 5cm with my membranes still intact. Our friend and Brandon's coworker Sonia happened to be the doctor on that night, so she popped her head in to say hi, and let us know that she had spoken with the consultant, who was going to come in for the delivery as a courtesy to us because Brandon worked at the hospital (normally with uncomplicated deliveries its just the midwives or junior doctors who do the deliveries). It was a crazy night in labor and delivery (I think about 7 babies born?) and by that point I wasn't feeling like chatting, so Sonia went on her way and our midwife moved us into our room.<br />
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Because I had gestational diabetes with this pregnancy, I had to be monitored my entire labor. When we got settled into our room, the midwife asked if I wanted to get into the shower, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was allowed to while wearing the monitor. I was REALLY hoping I could get in the tub, since it had helped me relax so much at home, but if I was allowed the shower, I'd take it! By this point I think it was about 8:30pm and I was needing something to help with the pain. I got settled in the shower, sitting on a chair and resting my head against the wall while I had 2 showerheads pouring down on me, and I decided to give the gas a try. And let me tell you, that stuff became my best friend! I spent the next hour or so in the shower, but we kept losing the baby's heartbeat on the monitor, so eventually I had to get out. And I'll be honest, I totally tried to ignore the midwife multiple times when she suggested I come out of the shower. I was comfortable (or as comfortable as I could be at that point!) in there and did not want to move! But eventually I gave in and did as I was told. Haha.<br />
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The next little bit is kind of a blur to be honest. One of the biggest differences that I noticed with this birth compared to Hazel's was that the midwives just kind of left me alone to do my own thing, where when I had Hazel, my nurse helped to coach me a lot. Not sure if thats a nurse vs midwife thing, if they figured that it was my second baby and Brandon was a doctor and we knew what we were doing, or if it was just because there were so many other babies being born at the same time. But personally, I kind of liked having someone to coach me along! By the time I got out of the shower, I was having pretty strong contractions pretty close together, so getting comfortable and into a groove was a struggle. When I had Hazel I loved sitting on the ball and leaning over the bed, so I gave that a try, but the ball was too small and I just couldn't get comfortable that way. I paced the room a little bit and hung on Brandon during contractions, but eventually I just ended up laying on my side on the bed, still clinging to that gas for dear life. At that point I remember telling Brandon how the gas was my best friend, and it was pretty much what was getting me through each contraction. I think it was around this point that Brandon mentioned that our baby's birthday was either going to be October 15 or October 16, and I told him it had to be October 15, because having the baby after midnight would mean that I had to be in labor for way too long!<br />
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By this time it was probably about 11:00 and things were getting a bit crazy. Contractions were coming hard and fast, and I felt like maybe I needed to push. This was another big difference having a midwife in Australia vs a nurse/doctor when I had Hazel in Canada – when I had Hazel and mentioned that I needed to push, they checked me right away, let me know when I was fully dilated, and gave me the go ahead to push. But with this birth, when I mentioned to the midwife that I felt like I needed to push, she just responded with “that's great, that means the head is coming down!” I asked if she could check me to see if I was ready to push, to which she responded that they don't really just check for no reason. (Isn't checking to see if I'm ready to push a good reason?!) My face must have shown my thoughts to that response, because Brandon knew right away that I really just wanted to know where I was at. I told her that if she wasn't going to check me, then I needed to know what my pain options were, because at that point the gas wasn't cutting it anymore. She said that the next option would be Morphine, but that I needed to be checked before I could have any. (Great! That's what I wanted in the first place!) I was 8cm with bulging membranes, so morphine wasn't an option. I had definitely hit transition and while I'd love to say that I was totally under control, I was starting to lose it a little bit. I asked if the midwife could break my water, knowing that things would likely go quickly once that happened, but didn't get a straight answer from her. I was kneeling up on the bed with my arms over the head, and with every contraction I tried to convince myself that my water had just broken. I just wanted so badly for it to break so I could finally push this baby out! And then came the magical moment. Sonia (our doctor friend) had been talking to our midwife in the hallway, and the midwife mentioned that things were going well, and that I wanted my water to break naturally (not sure where she got that idea!). Thinking that that didn't really sound like our style, Sonia popped her head into the room to assess the situation for herself. <br />
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“Hey Amy, so you want your water to break on its own, is that right?”<br />
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“I don't care, just get this baby out of me!”<br />
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“Okay, I can do that for you right now!”</div>
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One contraction later, and Sonia broke my water, and I heard her tell the midwife that I was now dilated to a 10 and there was meconium in the fluid. Nobody was telling me to push or not to push, but by that point, I decided I was just doing whatever I wanted until someone stopped me. I gave 2 good pushes and then everyone started telling me to stop pushing and start taking panting breaths. The baby's head was out and after one more push at 11:46pm, so was her whole body. The biggest relief and the best feeling in the world was when they placed her on my chest. After a rough pregnancy and exhausting labor, she was finally here! She had come out with one hand up by her face, so I ended up with a second degree tear that needed a little stitching up, but by that point I didn't even care. She was our perfect little girl and worth every bit of effort.<br />
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Our hospital stay was fairly uneventful. They were nice enough to give us a private room (perks of being hospital staff!) and thankfully, Lizzie's blood sugars were all stable, so she didn't have to go to the nursery at all. Brandon brought Hazel in the next day to see her, and at first she wasn't quite sure what to think. Tears welled up in her eyes and she started saying “No, no!” while shaking her head, but after the initial shock, she became just as smitten as the rest of us. We were now a family of FOUR and have been loving every (exhausting) minute since!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzW7tdA6ztILq1GXftIfuTomvJ6SBUM_YP8ojs4I33I-jt6b7qQkpjXtMohZPRF4hmeaCi5JD_M4i44I1L2EP4QU2mIP8N0uv18eYuMLZc06GOkK-npfJkBkjZIbLaPjcQuX97R-7Q4M/s1600/lizziebirth-17.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzW7tdA6ztILq1GXftIfuTomvJ6SBUM_YP8ojs4I33I-jt6b7qQkpjXtMohZPRF4hmeaCi5JD_M4i44I1L2EP4QU2mIP8N0uv18eYuMLZc06GOkK-npfJkBkjZIbLaPjcQuX97R-7Q4M/s640/lizziebirth-17.jpg" /></a></div>
amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13970651413423612789noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-26971128566191022152015-10-28T19:17:00.001-06:002015-10-28T19:17:18.753-06:004 Months and Food!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JGI7iXwD-glWrz2-EqjSu2XuzBacC-0uoEyNOAAoESLUUJLnTD6jjhSCWkIR95Mfds7WOsVni8hsVPDmdBrlPmL5-l1UpKzVIBhW7rB7FvsIEDbyNEc1mYFdzvbEr3WktOT2ioXTXIM/s1600/3A1A6718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JGI7iXwD-glWrz2-EqjSu2XuzBacC-0uoEyNOAAoESLUUJLnTD6jjhSCWkIR95Mfds7WOsVni8hsVPDmdBrlPmL5-l1UpKzVIBhW7rB7FvsIEDbyNEc1mYFdzvbEr3WktOT2ioXTXIM/s640/3A1A6718.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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This little lady is four months old! This past month has actually gone by pretty slow, and I'm not mad about it one little bit! There's so much going on and I just want to soak it all in! She's now 15 pounds 10 ounces and 24 inches long (although they said that last month too so someone's measurement was off...), and her head circumference is 16 inches. We've continued to outgrow clothes, only this time its because her thighs are too big! Chunky little thing. And don't be deceived by that serious face - this girl loves to chat, gives lots of smiles, loves sucking on her hands and playing with her toes, and moves around her playpen like nobody's business. She loves to hang onto mom whenever she's close by and loves dad's baby whispering skills to put her to sleep.</div>
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Oh, and as of today - she loves food! They told me at the doctor that we could start introducing solids, so today she had her first taste of banana. She didn't spit it out all over the place so I'd say so far its been a success! Let the messes begin!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2b6X4oDXUn95C8HFZ9pImiEeeWqEaOGcKrJRo16joP6-SYcl8qSvsBn2XlrJCa6DL5KuFYRjdgeJ5O6FqkepIr18eoH_EpGwQ53qJjCPN_E-C5DjyJmQ6GvJMl_6_T4XzdfLx1UeGNM/s1600/3A1A6732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2b6X4oDXUn95C8HFZ9pImiEeeWqEaOGcKrJRo16joP6-SYcl8qSvsBn2XlrJCa6DL5KuFYRjdgeJ5O6FqkepIr18eoH_EpGwQ53qJjCPN_E-C5DjyJmQ6GvJMl_6_T4XzdfLx1UeGNM/s640/3A1A6732.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/aeamyerickson/media/amy_zpsa89341cb.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" /></a>amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-41988711417874042782015-09-30T19:22:00.001-06:002015-10-06T17:53:26.710-06:003 Months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh man time goes so fast with a baby! People always told me that it did, but you guys - it really does! We are pretty much obsessed with Hazel and are loving watching her grow and figure the world out. A few notables at 3 months:<br />
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- 14 pounds and 24 inches long</div>
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- she has the chunkiest thighs and most pinchable cheeks</div>
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- she has become very vocal, particularly in the mornings</div>
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- she sucks on her hands all day long</div>
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- she is finally starting to tolerate driving in the car (hallelujah!) </div>
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- she still loves her bumbo, but gets tired in it sometimes </div>
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- we tried to upgrade from the stroller bassinet to the seat, but decided it was a bit soon for that</div>
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- she loves her baths</div>
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- she tricked us into thinking that she sleeps through the night, and has been up 3 times a night this past week! (hoping this phase passes quickly!) She does take longer naps though, which has been nice</div>
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- she loves to look around at the world and take it all in</div>
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We love this little girl so much! <br />
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<span id="goog_1457588671"></span><span id="goog_1457588672"></span><a href="http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/aeamyerickson/media/amy_zpsa89341cb.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" /></a>amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-69404424750039028152015-09-22T19:03:00.000-06:002015-09-22T19:03:22.153-06:00A few little day trips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This past week Brandon had a break from school, so we got to do a little adventuring! Life has been kind of crazy for us, so it was nice to have some time to just hang out as a family. The original plan was to make a roadtrip and visit some hospitals that Brandon has applied to for internship, but after making some phone calls we realized that there was no real benefit to doing that, so we stuck around home and made a few day trips. The first of which was to the Brisbane Planetarium and Mt Cootha Botanical gardens. I went to the planetarium for the first time when my parents were here visiting, and both Brandon and I are a little bit nerdy when it comes to astronomy, so it was fun to visit. One day we'll go back and watch the imax movies, because they're pretty sweet too. And a wander around the Botanical gardens is always fun. Apparently this is the only picture we came home with that day:</div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPd5EEav8P88lvEXk7thkETr1mzU7j1zoyBpf7zEuKtWhPwN3zlQHY_wfC1suzhfHAJRZNaBkLJ3brIXG6ksT_2kWZoonHQU7gcDkjj1YlU_OnR_0-kd-UTVTL2faOrNuYW0w6htn2NZA/s640/IMG_0298.jpg" width="480" /></div>
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Up next was a day trip down the coast to O'Reilly's in Lamington National Park. We had heard about the suspension bridge tree-top walk so we decided to check it out. And I'm sure it would have had a great view without the clouds! haha. We came across this random little bend in the road (which, by the way was the windiest, narrowest thing I have ever driven on) on the way up:</div>
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Australia does weird things with their roads sometimes. It was a super foggy day, which, to be honest, I didn't mind at all. I'm missing the fall weather back home, so this was a close second.</div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UzIO26AfG9I29fHXSqrrt9j5g1wuKTVgy6P-3cQHriDfPjuqaH439vRrlqS8kUNCHgGG500rQ-U80mKHYi9hGVsERpPWPbjerGI_GNa30WpjK0gDB1AyG7JNFZ9JP6l17YpehxVZYks/s640/3A1A6196.jpg" width="426" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlgZl_m9-kQN44XR0LinZMho04KYwGVnGL60e5xkAKVSCO2E6jZfJSv3d_xS4rEt9tffiuPPw_4vUzXXPdAiU0Sal76kkUl0waREXggr2QYJ2IDvrqNJdNoE18eIyhqTiABXDPKI-67I/s1600/3A1A6200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlgZl_m9-kQN44XR0LinZMho04KYwGVnGL60e5xkAKVSCO2E6jZfJSv3d_xS4rEt9tffiuPPw_4vUzXXPdAiU0Sal76kkUl0waREXggr2QYJ2IDvrqNJdNoE18eIyhqTiABXDPKI-67I/s640/3A1A6200.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7W49v6iNWThPTt-_LsBtaPg-wWUO8Oxoe4y7K1KDB_7gJ7YmTMW1A8uliItuhJLN_ETOVJXgeP2c6cbWq2UwdTZucH2AUwbljVfPkBQOspg3JGH-AU8jTsw4FeFJ5-T34Eb02Pzy5kfY/s1600/3A1A6228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7W49v6iNWThPTt-_LsBtaPg-wWUO8Oxoe4y7K1KDB_7gJ7YmTMW1A8uliItuhJLN_ETOVJXgeP2c6cbWq2UwdTZucH2AUwbljVfPkBQOspg3JGH-AU8jTsw4FeFJ5-T34Eb02Pzy5kfY/s640/3A1A6228.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyRQewOF11Ua3KigDXbSFhQYElDWSq_no985Suck4Zgpxuq2c37KSICGcD5P53hDGawsonrhHErcg4mce7G2Bub_VJ6b6EjlPDIf3Zp51O2OOsT9etDxJ6wKXAp5Ey0GamVZV3NwfIvA/s1600/3A1A6204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyRQewOF11Ua3KigDXbSFhQYElDWSq_no985Suck4Zgpxuq2c37KSICGcD5P53hDGawsonrhHErcg4mce7G2Bub_VJ6b6EjlPDIf3Zp51O2OOsT9etDxJ6wKXAp5Ey0GamVZV3NwfIvA/s640/3A1A6204.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZmv-Wlx20FZsFWbPfjEVPxDkERolqUqWzpmN4ZMNJUL2902biyIMsRKdh450RHefWk-cAmO4nI5t7xvkv5IoHdis0vB8RzOzqx6JpGLFOarpaSCw-azgF_ER3mB7do5VvE2Imk5E_hA/s1600/3A1A6206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZmv-Wlx20FZsFWbPfjEVPxDkERolqUqWzpmN4ZMNJUL2902biyIMsRKdh450RHefWk-cAmO4nI5t7xvkv5IoHdis0vB8RzOzqx6JpGLFOarpaSCw-azgF_ER3mB7do5VvE2Imk5E_hA/s640/3A1A6206.jpg" width="426" /></a> </div>
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Hazel was loving the walk! She kept getting mad when we'd pull the cover over the bassinet and just wanted to look around at everything! She didn't even mind getting a few raindrops in the face so she could see.</div>
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She didn't really love the family selfies though...we'll have to work on that.<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHecf_r_SFyi5xh5sykPSJhy4TfYj5S6q3cXQjGrxvizPZaSKNqaJrwWL5RKqugETz5C2qhdE-YhHDlYAk3dWULXFYA4yvJeoJnbRskCM0uQXRDkvEPPyVucLTJtDSqWRV0wedQuogOJk/s640/3A1A6234.jpg" width="640" /> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaErZEEYEG-v11O03VFpYdz9hGCmXZaNtFsvlD2TZzLyCikwB2AL9pbgnGaJr1T7G_vrMvraXPBh9X-L1G2wbTlqXdYnlZFvtn-isUo36PGvr487yigFH_ebuk8wmarKk3yzOIgXG90Y/s1600/3A1A6222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaErZEEYEG-v11O03VFpYdz9hGCmXZaNtFsvlD2TZzLyCikwB2AL9pbgnGaJr1T7G_vrMvraXPBh9X-L1G2wbTlqXdYnlZFvtn-isUo36PGvr487yigFH_ebuk8wmarKk3yzOIgXG90Y/s640/3A1A6222.jpg" width="640" /></a>We'll also have to work on finding someone to take an in focus family picture of us.<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MPF4bOck9DOrVXxF-O-_SWROjFUQ5ccDoP9EKMywuEqhd8I6idGzhZv3Y-LvOF1hHwcMkKXXr1SNfKx1hbU59GEfZIot7fdjejeU8AYqho3tPqw38qvdQD-N7S7BQQ93DWqde1YiAoE/s640/3A1A6224.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVDBizPRdtPACZ-LL-4GMzj9Nmz4GFN4RUz2XHMhE_RHOf9AAUqFruNSJ1PcTnp1RcYfbUEmUaymLjQ9OGF-4iQVbdJMs8tqCuvG9aI8Lmks3rm-6_oXB0QjY4ziorLF6f_BIz1hT3n8/s1600/3A1A6209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVDBizPRdtPACZ-LL-4GMzj9Nmz4GFN4RUz2XHMhE_RHOf9AAUqFruNSJ1PcTnp1RcYfbUEmUaymLjQ9OGF-4iQVbdJMs8tqCuvG9aI8Lmks3rm-6_oXB0QjY4ziorLF6f_BIz1hT3n8/s640/3A1A6209.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-qDTlmKYpPy37gaU-r8uVg_RPStOVMN355bDjXGv5_-nze4qBQPsk0YFiiaozMPw78jalEomiK_JqcT0BacSeqzcJHWjKbq-XZV2_LXCqS_T2yhAhVOnUmy2xjcgP0oYhqoKT18Fnl4/s1600/3A1A6219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-qDTlmKYpPy37gaU-r8uVg_RPStOVMN355bDjXGv5_-nze4qBQPsk0YFiiaozMPw78jalEomiK_JqcT0BacSeqzcJHWjKbq-XZV2_LXCqS_T2yhAhVOnUmy2xjcgP0oYhqoKT18Fnl4/s640/3A1A6219.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg05V11OyvweXz83eYQfzw2Ex3AFHU1mdRNH-C9id4vt35zL6Se170f5ol5OzIGpv5LT2jFv8KHzZiX-xU3Hzj562NmnZoP1qljOntDGKg7nNtb1I8TsV_f-fV4fwqdayuW_jaqPehjI/s1600/3A1A6216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg05V11OyvweXz83eYQfzw2Ex3AFHU1mdRNH-C9id4vt35zL6Se170f5ol5OzIGpv5LT2jFv8KHzZiX-xU3Hzj562NmnZoP1qljOntDGKg7nNtb1I8TsV_f-fV4fwqdayuW_jaqPehjI/s640/3A1A6216.jpg" width="640" /></a>After our walk we headed down to the little lodge at O'Reilly's where they have bird feeding. These birds were crazy! There were so many and they would swoop down and eat right out of your hand. Or in my case, land on your head and poop on your shoulder... <img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp69rAX2DbAvK8ZlcDObSspGTmxTkewCb2gdu2MyTUqIJLNIokgGZNFU-ScMj9iGUlo60-q-qk2C0nOTR1cQmao5Ib7BKdAOKJXO8Rlj0jetjadFGwCBKfHmU8KO2qZkjIUPdSmxozsL4/s640/3A1A6242.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij26wqJs7XvAnh6f4rL9R7dm6RPheFons29LOi_MO3G3eau4Fv82vSIfcZlEdzsBnchKfrsYJDDOvmE6hiNe_aNY_FoIwxJoAFSYstuVYGADYAfjbHp58ThoNZXpJ7Ed4y35SfDr5kBqI/s1600/3A1A6243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij26wqJs7XvAnh6f4rL9R7dm6RPheFons29LOi_MO3G3eau4Fv82vSIfcZlEdzsBnchKfrsYJDDOvmE6hiNe_aNY_FoIwxJoAFSYstuVYGADYAfjbHp58ThoNZXpJ7Ed4y35SfDr5kBqI/s640/3A1A6243.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxiInQA7HztWnpcP5SDijbOWZMirWEL7m1cnag0xrMNEG9ZzPqhGYpio38FRj-tqy3xMI16D71CeLf2VoQsTvUs-SVYibPXrzVcJcWlMCuYtvqUG0uukhPrMMG-oAzNE72TUPL6Go8BQ/s1600/3A1A6246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxiInQA7HztWnpcP5SDijbOWZMirWEL7m1cnag0xrMNEG9ZzPqhGYpio38FRj-tqy3xMI16D71CeLf2VoQsTvUs-SVYibPXrzVcJcWlMCuYtvqUG0uukhPrMMG-oAzNE72TUPL6Go8BQ/s640/3A1A6246.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4gThz_vCHedzeBHcb3UdUwQvIbs9PCY-mOOiQWfYqHjMOowMa0qazUH4LRiOEoL9fVf4B_42TnnrB0zEJTBhA8EvJsNWfVxb1QaT3HWCOYvMDwwVhyphenhyphenRKBvIsV5OcWjPEYGq9iJEYVns/s1600/3A1A6248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4gThz_vCHedzeBHcb3UdUwQvIbs9PCY-mOOiQWfYqHjMOowMa0qazUH4LRiOEoL9fVf4B_42TnnrB0zEJTBhA8EvJsNWfVxb1QaT3HWCOYvMDwwVhyphenhyphenRKBvIsV5OcWjPEYGq9iJEYVns/s640/3A1A6248.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9jiLGuWqQ-M3vScjLsiMRBdFlfYESATocJ_8TtwF7vdo603oDxBHScoI9YcD6ufGWqVhsBtO4zU91I3z0Aa6YJMkVUGnv7nhcpUJrSvlhDzq3iwryLOg-5csak5JPIa-H5pAyQ6F5uk/s1600/3A1A6297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9jiLGuWqQ-M3vScjLsiMRBdFlfYESATocJ_8TtwF7vdo603oDxBHScoI9YcD6ufGWqVhsBtO4zU91I3z0Aa6YJMkVUGnv7nhcpUJrSvlhDzq3iwryLOg-5csak5JPIa-H5pAyQ6F5uk/s640/3A1A6297.jpg" width="640" /></a>Our next day trip was up to the Glass House Mountains to hike Mt Ngungun. I had hiked it with the youth during young women's camp last year, but Brandon had never climbed it so we decided to go as a family. It's pretty comparable to Bear's Hump I think - just maybe not quite as steep. Again, Hazel was loving looking around (when her oversized hat wasn't falling in her face that is). Top it off with lunch at Costco on the way home and who can complain?!<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIEVGaV9RF0ipsTJKslMbKSChyphenhyphen6KGYRyF1KpDVsmLXQiT9zFtHGIb3JLzotsgfpgQYdh0hkPD7o6Xt45zCtwBAFkihRjvjbuqDq4CFmTk0YC1Bf0Zy7_FIEswDoSJKUk0WlM1-u1BT0k/s640/3A1A6312.jpg" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3k44lG5WABcMwQ1uY53ygmzqjRvh2wYye1SjVX2JMRdZ9MDcM6XzfT4BzF_V0XDZdh6hJnm8RG4okWkkIhI7U8lX3u7uojL0SIPf3-Mg6EQgAlERjtCicYO4Sa1k5Hfv4zlMf3EKWbc/s1600/3A1A6324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3k44lG5WABcMwQ1uY53ygmzqjRvh2wYye1SjVX2JMRdZ9MDcM6XzfT4BzF_V0XDZdh6hJnm8RG4okWkkIhI7U8lX3u7uojL0SIPf3-Mg6EQgAlERjtCicYO4Sa1k5Hfv4zlMf3EKWbc/s640/3A1A6324.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjoS4Zo_lC7uAsgFulpNccNkuNW4oMrRp-Nmzc1qLopQVHKj-mcJEnZB0CAo-tB2KTiHb8wu5oVYI2qAr5SU2-DnQFKdzXbt2xl2MKj9D8wpoZVF1wuYxXcgeIKfyfMRh7rKFytNlLzQ/s1600/3A1A6313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjoS4Zo_lC7uAsgFulpNccNkuNW4oMrRp-Nmzc1qLopQVHKj-mcJEnZB0CAo-tB2KTiHb8wu5oVYI2qAr5SU2-DnQFKdzXbt2xl2MKj9D8wpoZVF1wuYxXcgeIKfyfMRh7rKFytNlLzQ/s640/3A1A6313.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTfh5CLIzTfcBUwfJgn9DEa-EQTv4RCQyTD67Qah0DLL5yLnW57Tnylem2ZMmN0auiUedkIqSy7gC1y5sOhpgpNnHh4UYVnNMM_t6lGyo9avN63ZMg3hGWfrcT6nSEdXPgatC1s75Wkg/s1600/3A1A6323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTfh5CLIzTfcBUwfJgn9DEa-EQTv4RCQyTD67Qah0DLL5yLnW57Tnylem2ZMmN0auiUedkIqSy7gC1y5sOhpgpNnHh4UYVnNMM_t6lGyo9avN63ZMg3hGWfrcT6nSEdXPgatC1s75Wkg/s640/3A1A6323.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6jo2_C25HehKwUYfEfC2JgHi0krQ-Xudc6kfAxFR76cbBkhNViR3dsfmK8y6x6UxDuAO51q5WCtaWXodMux2_8HpAEeyXJ8SPJDifbgtAfdnBAWZoAkXawl-mMYKrsOj0e5wYUMbE7o/s1600/IMG_0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6jo2_C25HehKwUYfEfC2JgHi0krQ-Xudc6kfAxFR76cbBkhNViR3dsfmK8y6x6UxDuAO51q5WCtaWXodMux2_8HpAEeyXJ8SPJDifbgtAfdnBAWZoAkXawl-mMYKrsOj0e5wYUMbE7o/s640/IMG_0304.jpg" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NNaHtyW2ldsLjsY1ApbpWKtOHGKQmD0aiOvkxHokmiaWhJ33Z_swdXFDOOOPnYnOnWRRRglpJzsZoJaQTxfAUqIpmR4lJfVgHEjWQIecXpE-ZNrJKBX4lyI1-jAOhEjhI0lLUmY0Czo/s1600/IMG_0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NNaHtyW2ldsLjsY1ApbpWKtOHGKQmD0aiOvkxHokmiaWhJ33Z_swdXFDOOOPnYnOnWRRRglpJzsZoJaQTxfAUqIpmR4lJfVgHEjWQIecXpE-ZNrJKBX4lyI1-jAOhEjhI0lLUmY0Czo/s640/IMG_0303.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<a href="http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/aeamyerickson/media/amy_zpsa89341cb.png.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" /></a>amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-32480459536158761122015-08-28T02:17:00.000-06:002018-01-30T07:27:17.678-07:00Welcoming Hazel MaeI can hardly believe our little Hazel Mae is already two months old!
She is seriously the sweetest thing that ever was, and I can hardly
remember what life was like without her! She took her time coming to
us, but she was definitely worth the wait!<br />
<br />
At my 37
week appointment I was explaining our situation to Dr. Godwin (being
home to have the baby, Brandon having to go back to Australia 4 weeks
after my due date, and me planning to go back as soon as possible after
having the baby). She suggested that we strip my membranes at my 38
week appointment to help encourage things along. I was a bit surprised
that she encouraged it so early, but I wasn't saying no! Up until that
point I had felt like this baby was still so far away, so I started
getting more serious about getting things ready. I started packing my
bags, bought some diapers and a few things I thought I'd need. Long story short, over the next few weeks I had nothing more than a few Braxton Hicks, and had my membranes stripped every week to try and encourage things along. My due date came and went, and I tried every induction method that you can google. Yes, I even drank the magical castor oil/orange juice concoction. But baby Steedo was just snug as could be, and nothing was making her budge (although at this time we were convinced that it was a boy!)<br />
<br />
I
went in to the doctor the Monday after my due date (6 days overdue), hoping to convince her to
induce me the next morning. I was so done being pregnant and was ready
to meet my little baby. It was a new doctor that I hadn't seen before,
and she explained that they would induce me on Wednesday morning, when I
was 41 weeks. Now, if we want to get REALLY technical, I was actually
41 on Tuesday because my dating ultrasound was done in Australia, which
is a day ahead, but that's besides the point I guess. I asked if there was any
way I could be induced on Tuesday instead, because Brandon had to leave
in a couple weeks for Australia and we wanted to have as much as a
family together before he had to leave. She quickly responded with a
firm "no", explaining that if I was induced before I was ready there was
a chance it would fail and I would have to wait a few more days before
trying an induction again. I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up a
little. That one more day seemed like an eternity! She checked me and I
was about 2cm dilated and 50% effaced, which she felt was favorable for
a successful induction. Which of course made my hormonal overdue self
even more upset (drama queen, I know). If it was so favorable why
couldn't they do it a day early?! But she wasn't budging. She stripped
my membranes again (now the FIFTH time I had it done) and told me to be
at the hospital Wednesday morning. I promptly drove to the coulees to walk off some of
my frustration and make a tearful phone call to my mom. Then, after
accepting the fact that I wasn't going to put myself into labor and
there was nothing else I could do, I went home and took a nice long
nap. <br />
<br />
I relaxed for the next couple of days and went to bed Tuesday night with my bags
packed and ready to go. We tried to get to bed early that night, but
still didn't turn out the lights until about 11:30. I tossed and turned
as usual, and I think slept for a couple of hours before getting up at
2:30 to go to the bathroom. I felt a little trickle as I walked and
then a big gush as soon as I sat on the toilet. I questioned whether my
water had just broken, but I wasn't entirely sure, so I just headed
back to bed. I laid there wide awake for a half hour or so, and felt
another big gush as I rolled over in bed. I figured that must have been
my water breaking, but Brandon looked so peaceful sleeping so soundly
that I didn't wake him up right away. I got up and ate a midnight snack
of a banana muffin and a glass of milk, and did a last minute check
that I had everything I needed in my hospital bag. At about 3:00 I woke
Brandon up and told him what was going on, and we decided to call the
hospital to see if we needed to come right away or if we should just go
in at 6:30 like we had previously planned. They told us they for sure
wouldn't be sending us home once we got there, since I was already
booked to be induced, and that we should come before 6:30, although we
didn't need to rush in. We headed to the hospital at about 4:30,
checked into emergency, and headed upstairs to labor and delivery.<br />
<br />
We
were greeted by a friendly nurse and I was put into the semi-private
induction room so they could do a non-stress test. The nurse agreed
with my suspicions that my water had broken so she decided not to check
me and to just let Dr. Watke do it when she came in. I laid in bed on
the monitor for about half an hour, but nothing was happening (except my
random gushes of amniotic fluid all over the bed! That was not my
favorite feeling...) So we decided to go for a walk. They wanted us
to stay on the same floor in case we needed to rush back for any reason,
and so they could find us if need be. Turns out the third floor of the
Lethbridge hospital isn't that big. I quickly lost count of how many
times we circled from ICU to day surgery, and then down the long empty
hallway to the elevators. <br />
<br />
We headed back into our room at
about 7:30, and one of the nurses came in to inform me that a girl I knew had been assigned to be our nurse. She just wanted to make sure that I was okay with it, and if not they
would assign us another nurse. I didn't mind at all, in fact it was
kind of nice to have someone I knew! We chatted a little about life and
babies, and Kassidy calmed some of my fears about potentially being put
in the dreaded oxytocin drip. It seemed like everyone I had talked to
in my pregnancy told me how horrible it was, so when my water broke and
that became the only option for induction, I was a bit nervous. Dr.
Watke came in at about 8:00 and I was 2-3 cm, but still not having any
contractions other than some mild period-like cramping. She gave me a
couple of options: 1) I could wait until 2:30 that afternoon when my
water had been broken for 12 hours to see if I would go into labor on my
own, or 2) I could start the drip and get things going. I again
expressed some of my nervousness about the drip, and Dr. Watke's
response was perfect: "Here's the thing. Labor hurts. If you go into
labor on your own, it will hurt. But if you go on the drip and go into
labor and it hurts, well then of course its the drip's fault. The pain
may come on more quickly and more intense, but I wouldn't say that a
labor on the drip is more painful." Okay then, bring it on. "Perfect,"
she said, "we'll have a baby by 5 then? Just kidding. That's my
optimistic guess. Realistically it will probably be by midnight." She
was on her way and Kassidy came back to start my IV and get me hooked up
to the monitors. She told me that with her first baby her water had
broken and she had to be induced with the drip. "It worked quickly and
efficiently, but it worked!" I have to say I liked everyone's honesty on
the matter. Don't try and sugar coat it for me - just tell me how it
is!<br />
<br />
The day I delivered it was crazy busy in labor and
delivery, and we waited for a little bit before starting the drip to see
if I could be put in a private room. By this time there was another
lady in the bed next to me getting induced as well. After about an
hour, Kassidy decided just to start the drip and we'd move when the next
room came available. So 9:00 things began. I remember Kassidy
bringing my breakfast tray, but I wasn't super hungry at the time. She
mentioned having breakfast a couple of times, and now I understand why!
Good thing I ate it when I did, because had it wasn't long before there
were other things to focus on. By 10:00 I was having contractions
roughly every 3 minutes, and I had to concentrate to get through them.
This is where I put my hypnobirthing skills to work by doing my alphabet
repetition (A...a...a...a...b...b...b...b...). Brandon was his usual
light-hearted, chatty self, and I remember thinking to myself "Can't you
just focus on what is going on here?!" but I'm pretty sure I never
actually said it. He caught on pretty quick though :) I remember the
nurses coming in to check on me and making comments about how quickly I
was responding to the drip and how well it was working, and then
increasing the drip before leaving the room. That's one thing I didn't
realize...in my mind they put you on the drip until you started having
contractions, and once things were progressing they just left the drip
where it was. Kassidy had told me before starting the drip that they
could stop it if things were getting too intense and contractions were
compounding on each other, but they wouldn't turn it off or down because
of pain, because that was kind of the point. As things picked up
though it was a struggle to look back at the IV pump and see that it had
been increased again - I was sure it was working well enough! haha.
Because I was induced on the drip I also had to be monitored my entire
labor, so I could look back at the strip printing and see that I really
was having contractions as often as it seemed - I was almost hoping that
it was just in my head!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4GE9ekd68g1sRkRWgiNzRqt5nWptm4yLWUJrmLnuSKeJi0vnANh4sHc-SB-FMvrUltSx8LEHd5GbdAYcxCRbb4xU3drD0-p7Gui1FN5RkMd1v4J1foS1N_UHVEGEoXfghkxRHgr6lss/s1600/3A1A9395.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4GE9ekd68g1sRkRWgiNzRqt5nWptm4yLWUJrmLnuSKeJi0vnANh4sHc-SB-FMvrUltSx8LEHd5GbdAYcxCRbb4xU3drD0-p7Gui1FN5RkMd1v4J1foS1N_UHVEGEoXfghkxRHgr6lss/s640/3A1A9395.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFxjqKnvS0uq1g01paesHhgue-SxB975NEHYqoxMEBCpRJJH2OAgoD-Z2i0FJL_pnACRDqU8qV7z9WuidWTv1YBTo2IC0BhSqM6YU60Q2NBEIhjgWxNcjrA7g6fdp5VHv-NL44LoUFoM/s1600/3A1A9402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFxjqKnvS0uq1g01paesHhgue-SxB975NEHYqoxMEBCpRJJH2OAgoD-Z2i0FJL_pnACRDqU8qV7z9WuidWTv1YBTo2IC0BhSqM6YU60Q2NBEIhjgWxNcjrA7g6fdp5VHv-NL44LoUFoM/s640/3A1A9402.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAaPJuttc6VB5dwJKKIFpX2V5lRVrqaCKNjeND1l1hUPY76ud9EcxsfedpzE_sYn6KwymuTcqWfmzO1VONJiMSnKmbK2nmdgogArDSJssY-oXDglTVLlAn8WeDt_dtFYlxR3xDu1cp6k/s1600/3A1A9404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAaPJuttc6VB5dwJKKIFpX2V5lRVrqaCKNjeND1l1hUPY76ud9EcxsfedpzE_sYn6KwymuTcqWfmzO1VONJiMSnKmbK2nmdgogArDSJssY-oXDglTVLlAn8WeDt_dtFYlxR3xDu1cp6k/s640/3A1A9404.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
About 10:30 things were pretty
intense and I was still only 3-4 cm so I decided I needed something for
pain. My blood pressure was also high (up to 170/100ish at one point)
so they gave me some meds to bring it down and sent off blood work for
HELLP syndrome, just to be safe. I had a dose of morphine and gravol
and shortly after I was moved into my own room. I'm pretty sure Kassidy
had to fight the other nurses to get me into that room, but I'm glad
she did! I was getting pretty uncomfortable and didn't really want to
be sharing a room by that point. Even just the move was a mental
challenge for me. We waited until my contraction finished then bee
lined down the hall before the next one started. I got settled in there
and decided to try sitting on the exercise ball instead of laying in
bed. Which, I might add, was the best decision ever. I pretty much
didn't get off that ball for the rest of my labor unless I absolutely
had to. By this point my mom had arrived and helped me through my
contractions by coaching me to switch up my breathing. Before this
point I was trying the long inhale/long exhale breathing, but we
switched to shorter, more puffing kind of breathing, which totally
helped. Every time a contraction came I would panic a little bit, but
as long as someone was looking me in the eyes and breathing with me I
could handle it. My mom helped me through a few contractions, and then
Brandon took over. I seriously couldn't have done it without him. As I
sat on the ball, leaning over the bed with every contraction, he leaned
over the other side of the bed, looked me in the eyes, and held my
hands, squeezing my fingers in the rhythm that I needed to breathe. He
didn't move for hours and I'm sure he must have had a sore back by the
end.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3lqlMhjbEy6VeTzXhgLFEltal882e_YvFaF85ysBntRIW-vLrN9_CPDxSK_Fwz32fV3v2U1QL7V4cye9xQbwnGwmfc8mIgXhCznazfPx88AIUmvmH29TPw6MC0bOlmqxcuFty8dc-88/s1600/3A1A9410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3lqlMhjbEy6VeTzXhgLFEltal882e_YvFaF85ysBntRIW-vLrN9_CPDxSK_Fwz32fV3v2U1QL7V4cye9xQbwnGwmfc8mIgXhCznazfPx88AIUmvmH29TPw6MC0bOlmqxcuFty8dc-88/s640/3A1A9410.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eI-mwWvK7ilpfCBBaM2XS_k41sdfIAAaSl_dec9GsOyglYaBjsDeFsfirjmZyBM_Uyu7cKB-lR731x3Tj7A1CpDlAE_PUasjXULViK4Jp_m39uOrfd8V4V571hKIQReUqEBwbM8tdaw/s1600/3A1A9422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eI-mwWvK7ilpfCBBaM2XS_k41sdfIAAaSl_dec9GsOyglYaBjsDeFsfirjmZyBM_Uyu7cKB-lR731x3Tj7A1CpDlAE_PUasjXULViK4Jp_m39uOrfd8V4V571hKIQReUqEBwbM8tdaw/s640/3A1A9422.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZTyFtZyYsk2T7-vSqUIq-P4Fyn6LBERLrO2f34jvP1zYuvJXlvfTwZMDVZ_0-S6aCqE6EodpxR9_u3xHWBPSSq0N2Ds5njRXIO-t-oIgVaoRDvYAyA30cX1ly92hyB33GBBAtfqYCmw/s1600/3A1A9418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZTyFtZyYsk2T7-vSqUIq-P4Fyn6LBERLrO2f34jvP1zYuvJXlvfTwZMDVZ_0-S6aCqE6EodpxR9_u3xHWBPSSq0N2Ds5njRXIO-t-oIgVaoRDvYAyA30cX1ly92hyB33GBBAtfqYCmw/s640/3A1A9418.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
At about 11:30 I was starting to feel like things
were picking up and I asked to be checked again. I was 6 cm and decided
I needed a little something to get me through the next 4 cm. I didn't
really want an epidural, so I decided to go for another dose of
morphine. Kassidy, my mom, and I discussed whether I should go for the
full 10mg dose or just take half, but after checking with the charge
nurse we decided to go for the full 10 as I probably had more than 3
hours until the baby would be born and it wouldn't likely affect the
baby. The next few hours are kind of a blur to be honest. The morphine
made me pretty stoned and I basically just sat on the ball, breathing
away, and dosing off between contractions. Its a good thing Brandon was
holding my hands because I was a little tipsy sitting on that ball! My
contractions were all really focused in the front, so I would try to
lean back a little bit to ease up some of the pressure, but in doing so I
was a little off balance. haha. Exhibit A:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX8j32Exez7p9gNVHCAMFKCitGSA2Fqujcv2LD6OCBKYYfFF98Td0Hc1cpz3QZ63_yWc5QC-95ML8mMSfdmqOSvpDSaF6Hg_iDWVRhvpP2cjW-ZrAXMTTq42WtpBhIVXQjr0Jxu4zGRs/s1600/3A1A9424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX8j32Exez7p9gNVHCAMFKCitGSA2Fqujcv2LD6OCBKYYfFF98Td0Hc1cpz3QZ63_yWc5QC-95ML8mMSfdmqOSvpDSaF6Hg_iDWVRhvpP2cjW-ZrAXMTTq42WtpBhIVXQjr0Jxu4zGRs/s640/3A1A9424.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipwZakplqSDdrJnsskHJxuHOL5CFpPL_gEKURxAKtU18pb87qGQ-7mo-sLCueRApdOgDTjnXBFTROYecW1CrNK8p0C0pJbg8bNGFvW8zDQSsT2Xhl-UfcEdMIRyXvkjOn9aw8UE9hUzI/s1600/3A1A9423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhipwZakplqSDdrJnsskHJxuHOL5CFpPL_gEKURxAKtU18pb87qGQ-7mo-sLCueRApdOgDTjnXBFTROYecW1CrNK8p0C0pJbg8bNGFvW8zDQSsT2Xhl-UfcEdMIRyXvkjOn9aw8UE9hUzI/s640/3A1A9423.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcs_IileSryhWwj3k_iwgjKHGYK4_Yxh5lx_jtPCKcw2yyEOgYySGHn1UOq7ZiVnFJM5Lw4rMsD5567PFS7JMM90xDszemopXsp7HigKaLuej1T83q1FxZoIsVsHygAp_3Ca8pIiH3mw/s1600/3A1A9421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcs_IileSryhWwj3k_iwgjKHGYK4_Yxh5lx_jtPCKcw2yyEOgYySGHn1UOq7ZiVnFJM5Lw4rMsD5567PFS7JMM90xDszemopXsp7HigKaLuej1T83q1FxZoIsVsHygAp_3Ca8pIiH3mw/s640/3A1A9421.jpg" width="640" /></a>Around
1:00, Dr. Watke and her student dropped by to see how things were
going. I got back into bed (which I dreaded doing every time I got
checked) and was 8 cm! She didn't stay long and I just kept on doing my
thing. About 2:30 I got up to the bathroom and told Kassidy I thought
maybe I needed to push. I was 9 cm and seriously - that next hour was
definitely the hardest! We decided to change positions, so I kneeled up
on the bed and leaned over the head of the bed. Every contraction
seemed like an eternity and I just remember thinking "I'm sure this has
gone on long enough. Why hasn't she checked me again? Why is nobody
asking me if I need to push?" I remember hearing about "transition" and
I finally understood what everyone meant. THIS was transition. The
part where you just want to throw in the towel. Finally after about an
hour I asked to be checked again and I was a 10! Oh happy day. Kassidy
said the baby's head was really low and ready to go so it shouldn't be
long.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhhN10F2PVskgL3N8kNfRaXsbzJY_ZhUnY-t-84s0Oz1KmIPT0VM9OExMpitqrMXK5HbLgtCdQaRBHgCcn-J6kUaDtJHpEjG3sFpFikLHfeQZPK7Q3vR6KALNQzSdBCA0MkiNiagedu4/s1600/3A1A9425.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhhN10F2PVskgL3N8kNfRaXsbzJY_ZhUnY-t-84s0Oz1KmIPT0VM9OExMpitqrMXK5HbLgtCdQaRBHgCcn-J6kUaDtJHpEjG3sFpFikLHfeQZPK7Q3vR6KALNQzSdBCA0MkiNiagedu4/s640/3A1A9425.jpg" width="640" /></a> I started pushing at 3:25, with Brandon holding
my right leg and Kassidy my left. At first I clearly didn't know how to
push, because I was still kind of breathing through my pushes. Well my
mom, nurse Susie put an end to that right quick. "Amy! You can't
breathe and push. Just hold your breath and pretend like you're having a
poop." All of a sudden my pushes were way more effective! Kassidy
said to try having 3 good pushes with every contraction, and everyone
kept telling me how great I was doing. And how much HAIR this baby
had! About 10 minutes into the pushing, Dr. Watke poked her head in to
see how things were coming, "Oh wow, I'll go get changed quick!". Thank
the heavens. It was so nice to hear everyone talk about how soon this
baby would be here. I had been told that the pushing felt the best, but
it was still so exhausting! I can't imagine having to push like that
for hours. My contractions kept coming about every 2 minutes, and I was
giving 3 or 4 good pushes with each one. Dr. Watke and her student
came back and Dr. Watke kept saying how impressed she was with how well I
was doing. ("I keep forgetting you don't have an epidural!") Then came
the ring of fire. The other thing that I had heard so much about, but
couldn't really appreciate until I had experienced it. I've tried to
block that part from my memory. But it was definitely motivation to
keep giving effective pushes! Only a couple pushes later and our little
GIRL came out all in one push! The cord had been wrapped around her
neck and she was a bit tangled in it, so Dr. Watke was going to deliver
the head and unwrap the cord, then deliver the body, but she just came
all at once. "She's all tangled up," said the med student. "SHE?!" My
jaw must have hit the floor. We were convinced we were having a boy!
Dr. Watke commented how we seemed surprised, so I had to clarify that we
were very happy with a girl, just surprised!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nyp-QnzXSzfmQKV-NHqunEddSsiaDSXdgMd29M30cyNja4KSY5Zj1r4DJ2n_YEXYcOz6BR-uA8VNf0_uSzwUi3b2_156NFGZP6SnjA3IqscGy6D1Q6134uYeLpFw_1u8Qf8QEZXreOk/s1600/3A1A9442.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nyp-QnzXSzfmQKV-NHqunEddSsiaDSXdgMd29M30cyNja4KSY5Zj1r4DJ2n_YEXYcOz6BR-uA8VNf0_uSzwUi3b2_156NFGZP6SnjA3IqscGy6D1Q6134uYeLpFw_1u8Qf8QEZXreOk/s640/3A1A9442.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
They
clamped the cord quick and handed me my little girl. She was so
perfect. She had so much hair! And...she was a little bit blue.
Between aspirating a little bit of meconium and getting tangled in the
cord, she was having a little trouble breathing and she wasn't crying
(her first apgar score was a 6). So I only held her for a minute before
Kassidy took her back, "Your baby is fine, but we're just going to take
her over here for a minute." The NICU team was called and they gave
her a quick suction. Up until this point I hadn't cried, but after that
suction she let out a big cry and my tears started flowing. That was
my little girl! She was finally here, healthy and strong.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_2x55cPp6PnjtNW1rVw8QSH7si0vucTDO_v1AOA8SPTXz-EfOhbVSOpOM7fAPuJKp2KkIVg6A5-S5SMXHc6SIJD4y-Fe28EbcOHkaQPOvo6A7ZrqNsMsZEMweWIz3BUzn9698u-MDpw/s1600/3A1A9444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_2x55cPp6PnjtNW1rVw8QSH7si0vucTDO_v1AOA8SPTXz-EfOhbVSOpOM7fAPuJKp2KkIVg6A5-S5SMXHc6SIJD4y-Fe28EbcOHkaQPOvo6A7ZrqNsMsZEMweWIz3BUzn9698u-MDpw/s640/3A1A9444.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Once our
little girl had pinked up a bit they handed her back to me and Brandon
and I just stared at her, commenting on how perfect she was. And that
she was a girl! We both fell instantly in love with her, and she's had
Brandon wrapped around her little finger since day one. We had always
talked about how if we had a boy he would be Brandon's little sidekick,
and I never had to wonder if he would have rather had a boy. Watching
him become a dad has been the most precious thing, and he is the best
dad I could ask for for our little girl. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhK6i6BjhZBOedfE1yzsMBL4iXvmXc0VzMAs90dUHPHZxb5uNMY_KFANs6a75VKpNGCYMvrBD5cXAtpHxEZCSKlObojU3MDc6PzzQqPiKPGDkocTXkCsDdhm7wxCNLWlC6qdMCDynUR4/s1600/3A1A9446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhK6i6BjhZBOedfE1yzsMBL4iXvmXc0VzMAs90dUHPHZxb5uNMY_KFANs6a75VKpNGCYMvrBD5cXAtpHxEZCSKlObojU3MDc6PzzQqPiKPGDkocTXkCsDdhm7wxCNLWlC6qdMCDynUR4/s640/3A1A9446.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HlX7-y1fZKU8mYdxVXy7DleKpTWFeSgbzszMogy2RMDYW7o-iX-DJ4emq6actHk-0a2ofYbkQYSVQlATwNm6OjDjp9cqFyqS-H1eCaUMeRZ8__Ug8mo7gnyOzKFk5B4Ljz3NJ_F0a8A/s1600/3A1A9447.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HlX7-y1fZKU8mYdxVXy7DleKpTWFeSgbzszMogy2RMDYW7o-iX-DJ4emq6actHk-0a2ofYbkQYSVQlATwNm6OjDjp9cqFyqS-H1eCaUMeRZ8__Ug8mo7gnyOzKFk5B4Ljz3NJ_F0a8A/s640/3A1A9447.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDgv_I-KXOuZDA5SEIWpbIPQJ3TJ1YZ-ztK_egdW9WHkd8AWUOmse9F3XAX9N_oKLDh3dS09g6eanbmwYQt-cDpePB2WnuyVYVrPYHEE8ng-6o48F1MqbDd-16MZwHM7OPRbKmS1Xa40/s1600/3A1A9448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDgv_I-KXOuZDA5SEIWpbIPQJ3TJ1YZ-ztK_egdW9WHkd8AWUOmse9F3XAX9N_oKLDh3dS09g6eanbmwYQt-cDpePB2WnuyVYVrPYHEE8ng-6o48F1MqbDd-16MZwHM7OPRbKmS1Xa40/s640/3A1A9448.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoV7CY4fxtD2UoyE34NEVnsZjw8afToz5snkSnwLhcy6gXeEqEqqKIgKqmir7AhqtZs05oNfi9k2S74_qcGFzHFuAZczarwPlPXEOiKDdqGq8NkQm4GTjBol0bGsJ-LGGFAOB2cu_IA4/s1600/3A1A9451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoV7CY4fxtD2UoyE34NEVnsZjw8afToz5snkSnwLhcy6gXeEqEqqKIgKqmir7AhqtZs05oNfi9k2S74_qcGFzHFuAZczarwPlPXEOiKDdqGq8NkQm4GTjBol0bGsJ-LGGFAOB2cu_IA4/s640/3A1A9451.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8GlRFEYs2dE7DDuvk84MS-C3D5B8kPDLHlFespOlHKZ9lNlgTNcCuDwEODusF0YGZI4KwZhEe96nK2MbZbH88FnUHUCaWyjSZBBxRoUm-G9qjZPTRoAbUKBzoAy1YtC20NUR3ia_IPA/s1600/3A1A9455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8GlRFEYs2dE7DDuvk84MS-C3D5B8kPDLHlFespOlHKZ9lNlgTNcCuDwEODusF0YGZI4KwZhEe96nK2MbZbH88FnUHUCaWyjSZBBxRoUm-G9qjZPTRoAbUKBzoAy1YtC20NUR3ia_IPA/s640/3A1A9455.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
The next day it came time for us to decide on a name.
Hazel was always at the top of our list, and it was an
easy pick because we each have a grandma named Hazel. There were a few
other names on our list, but that just seemed to suit her so well that
we never even really considered anything else. Brandon wrote "Hazel Mae Steed" on the whiteboard in our
room and we decided that would be her name. We filled out the forms and made it official, then headed home that afternoon to begin our life as a family of 3. She was finally here - our little Hazel Mae.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIMmmeoG6TL5rJSJ5s2Bkzp_0N9AlINEQpuju7XGV59QYE5iGbGnhmgO7uZK3qGjIjXlKh-kQ7DpFzRYBfbYCFTRBFJiLg3GqQ_6bWLX7VQ4zbv8waDL3e3x3i7R9gPKilMY8VVOpZW0/s1600/3A1A9459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIMmmeoG6TL5rJSJ5s2Bkzp_0N9AlINEQpuju7XGV59QYE5iGbGnhmgO7uZK3qGjIjXlKh-kQ7DpFzRYBfbYCFTRBFJiLg3GqQ_6bWLX7VQ4zbv8waDL3e3x3i7R9gPKilMY8VVOpZW0/s640/3A1A9459.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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<br />
<a href="http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/aeamyerickson/media/amy_zpsa89341cb.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" /></a>amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-17141960529606239232015-06-01T15:54:00.002-06:002015-06-01T15:54:08.868-06:0037 weeks!!<b> </b>Okay, I know I say this at the beginning of every post, but I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has flown by! Before I came home from Australia I was worried I was going to have nothing to do and I'd be driving everyone crazy, but now here we are, just over 2 weeks away and I still feel like there's so much to do! We are getting super excited though and can't wait to meet this little one!<br />
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<br />
<b>How far along are you</b>: 37 weeks, 6 days<br />
<br />
<b>Baby is</b>: somewhere around 50cm long and roughly 6 pounds. AND hopefully has a small head. haha. But seriously.<br />
<br />
<b>Weight gain</b>: I've kind of lost track of that, but somewhere between 20 and 25 pounds I think. <br />
<br />
<b>Movement</b>: you betcha. This baby has been head down since about 30 weeks and I can definitely feel a little bum and feet in my ribs and some arms in my hips on a regular basis. Sometimes its just big stretches (I'm sure its getting crowded in there by now...) and sometimes its a full on dance party!<br />
<br />
<b>Maternity clothes</b>: I pretty much live in the same pair of shorts and a few shirts. Plus a few maternity dresses. I used to care more about dressing up but at this point I'm all about comfort. The less seams digging into my sides the better.<br />
<br />
<b>Stretch marks</b>: none. I have lathered up with my Aveeno lotion religiously since coming back to Southern Alberta and it seems to be working!<br />
<br />
<b>Sleep</b>: continues to be a challenge. I get SUPER itchy at night, so between that and having to get up to the bathroom like 10 times it can be a bit touch and go.<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite moment of the week</b>: Getting the last minute things organized! I went and bought a few bows, just in case we have a girl, and my diaper bag came in the mail today. Now I just need to wash a few clothes, pick up our stroller from the border, and pack the bags!<br />
<br />
<b>Feeling</b>: pretty good still! I get some wicked sciatica pains in my legs, which is not my favorite, and maneuvering this belly can be a bit tricky, especially when rolling over in bed or bending over, but other than that it's been good!<br />
<br />
<b>Symptoms:</b> My back pain has resolved itself, which has been heaven. Other than that sciatica, carpel tunnel, mild swelling in my hands and feet, braxton hicks, itchiness, insomnia, and nocturia. I had heartburn just once and I'm glad I don't have to deal with that regularly!<br />
<br />
<b>Baby necessities: </b>I wish someone would tell me! We've got a stroller and diaper bag, and we're borrowing a carseat until we go back to Australia. Other than that we've got a few gender neutral sleepers, some blankets, and hats for the hospital. Now I just need to do a quick shop for some diapers and baby shampoo and all that jazz and I should be set...right? haha.<br />
<br />
<b>Working on</b>: making sure I've got everything I need, and preparing myself for labor. But let's be honest, nobody's ever prepared for that. We went to prenatal classes last weekend, which Brandon <strike>hated</strike> loved, and I feel a bit more mentally in the game after that. Only time will tell how things will go now!<br />
<br />
<b>Nursery</b>: is neglected. This baby will get a nursery one day. Probably when its not a baby anymore... <br />
<br />
<b>Currently craving</b>: I had a pina colada smoothie from Orange Julius on the weekend and that's all I've been able to think about since!<br />
<br />
<b>Wishing</b>: I knew when this baby is coming! I had a doctors appointment this morning and there's no action happening yet, so its all just a waiting game.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-27302061479237827792015-03-26T23:07:00.001-06:002015-03-26T23:39:59.067-06:0028 Weeks?!I could swear I was just writing about how fast 19 weeks had come along, and now we're already at 28?! Time is going so, so, so, SO fast! In just 12(ish) weeks (hopefully 10?) our little baby will be here! That's such a crazy thought. I think the biggest thing that freaks me out is how permanent of a change it will be. Which, I know sounds a bit weird. But seriously, we are going to be responsible for a little human. And then more little humans will come along, and probably for the next 30 years my job is to take care of these children and teach them to be kind, polite, productive, influential members of society. No pressure or anything! Anyways, here's a few updates on little baby Steedo!<br />
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<br />
<b>How far along are you</b>: 28 weeks, 2 days<br />
<br />
<b>Baby is</b>: roughly 16 inches long and 2.5 pounds! About the size of a coconut.<br />
<br />
<b>Weight gain</b>: 15ish pounds<br />
<br />
<b>Movement</b>: this little babe is a moving machine! I get lots of nice little love punches when I'm trying to get to sleep, or as a wake up call first thing in the morning. Preparing me for future sleep deprivation I guess.<br />
<br />
<b>Maternity clothes</b>: you betcha! I had a bit of a breakdown and had to go for a little shopping spree. I mean, how was I supposed to have the pregnancy glow if I was always depressed about nothing fitting? haha. But in all reality, a few maternity dresses and some shirts with room to grow was all I needed. I've never really been one for the jersey knit shirts or real form fitting tops, but that's all changed with this ever growing belly!<br />
<br />
<b>Stretch marks</b>: none. (fingers crossed!)<br />
<br />
<b>Sleep</b>: is definitely getting more difficult. My body pillow is too bulky but I think I've mastered a comfortable position with one pillow between my knees, one under my belly that I can also bear hug, and a couple pillows under my head. Breathing is also becoming more of a challenge, which I didn't expect this early on!<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite moment of the week</b>: Getting a pregnancy massage. I could definitely go for one of those more often!<br />
<br />
<b>Feeling</b>: like I'm slowing down big time. Second trimester was a dream, I just wish my energy would stick around for another month or two!<br />
<br />
<b>Working on</b>: getting my house clean and organized before I head back to Canada in a month! I just feel like I want everything set up before we go, so I'm just trying to figure out where to put everything.<br />
<br />
<b>Nursery</b>: Nursery/office you mean? Well we've got a bassinet and a few other baby things, so its coming along! Brandon's favorite touch is the kangaroo skin that he's put in the bassinet. You know, to keep the baby warm at night.<br />
<br />
<b>Currently craving</b>: No real cravings still. But I do go through a LOT of Nutella...<br />
<br />
<b>Wishing</b>: not really wishing for anything I guess. Things are going along perfectly and I couldn't ask for anything more than that!<br />
<br />
<b>Anticipating</b>: labor. haha. I just wonder how I'm going to handle it! I've never really experienced true pain before so I don't even know if I have a high pain tolerance or not. But I'm hoping to do as much as I can on my own so we'll see how it goes I guess!<br />
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<img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-44535433407709125732015-02-13T21:33:00.000-07:002015-02-15T19:37:01.854-07:00Squash & Feta Spinach SaladThis past week my world traveler friend Cristy came and stayed with us on her way from Bali to Tonga, and we had the most wonderful few days. Cristy is a mastermind chef so we took advantage of the fact that she was here and had a real kitchen to use, and made some delicious meals while she was here. My personal favorite was her squash and feta spinach salad with balsamic dressing. I am still dreaming about it and have had it at least three times this week.<br />
<br />
In my cooking classes with Cristy, I've learned the art of cooking to taste rather than measuring, but here's the general recipe. So delicious.<br />
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<br />
<u><b>Squash and Feta Spinach Salad</b></u><br />
<br />
<i>Ingredients:</i><br />
Spinach<br />
Arugula<br />
Squash (we used a kabocha squash)<br />
Fresh sage<br />
Rosemary<br />
Salt<br />
Pepper <br />
Feta<br />
Pine nuts <br />
Fresh basil<br />
Onion<br />
Butter<br />
Brown sugar<br />
Olive oil<br />
Balsamic vinegar<br />
Garlic salt<br />
Mustard<br />
Honey <br />
Chicken (optional)<br />
<br />
1. Boil the squash until cooked and cut into chunks. Melt some butter in a frying pan and add olive oil and some freshly chopped sage, rosemary, and salt and pepper. Add squash and saute.<br />
<br />
2. While the squash is boiling, you can make the dressing. To be honest, Cristy worked her magic on this one, but I do know that she used mostly olive oil and balsamic vinegar - about twice as much oil than vinegar. Add a hint of mustard, a little honey, and some garlic salt. Then adjust to taste.<br />
<br />
3. If you'd like to add chicken to the salad, sear a chicken breast in a frying pan. We then added some balsamic salad dressing and a hint of greek salad dressing and let the chicken simmer in that to make a glaze.<br />
<br />
4. Slice the onion into thin rings and fry in some butter in a frying pan. Add brown sugar to caramelize the onions.<br />
<br />
5. Toast pine nuts lightly (optional) <br />
<br />
5. Put it all together! Toss the spinach and arugula with the dressing, then top with the squash, pine nuts, caramelized onions, crumbled feta, and freshly chopped basil. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />
<b>How far along are you</b>: 19 weeks, 3 days<br />
<br />
<b>Baby is</b>: roughly 6 inches long and about half a pound - about the size of a mango<br />
<br />
<b>Weight gain</b>: 8-10 pounds, depending on the day. I blame at least half of that on Christmas though :) <br />
<br />
<b>Movement</b>: we could see tons of moving around on our ultrasound 2 weeks ago, but I haven't felt anything yet!<br />
<br />
<b>Maternity clothes</b>: are my best friend. I can still wear some of my pants, but maternity pants are just way too comfortable to not wear! I've pretty much been wearing them since 11 weeks since anything even remotely tight around my belly made me nauseated. Maternity shirts still drown me, but I'm slowly growing out of my regular shirts. Its an awkward stage, I won't lie.<br />
<br />
<b>Stretch marks</b>: none. I had a false alarm when we went home for Christmas and my skin got SUPER dry. Nothing some Aveeno lotion and coming back to the humidity can't fix!<br />
<br />
<b>Sleep</b>: My other best friend. I seriously average like 10 hours a night. Minus the million times I have to get up to pee.<br />
<br />
<b>Favorite moment of the week</b>: Finally finding a good doctor in Australia. Such a relief!<br />
<br />
<b>Feeling</b>: like a normal human being! I didn't realize how bad first trimester was until I was out of it. So I'm thoroughly enjoying second trimester while it lasts.<br />
<br />
<b>Working on</b>: getting back into an exercise routine. I had started a fitness program 2 weeks before I found out I was pregnant and that pretty much went out the window as soon as I got sick. Trying to be more consistent now that I have the energy for it.<br />
<br />
<b>Nursery</b>: Its currently B's office until after his big exam in March, but
after that I'm sure we'll do a little something to it. We'll be moving
home when the baby is 6 months old so the nursery may be our bedroom until then. <br />
<br />
<b>Currently craving</b>: Nothing really. I always wanted oranges and salt and
vinegar chips in the first trimester but now I don't really crave
much. Except chocolate. But that's nothing new... <br />
<br />
<b>Wishing</b>: I could buy all the baby clothes! Maybe its a good thing we're keeping the gender a surprise...<br />
<br />
<b>Anticipating</b>: everything! haha. Mostly just meeting our little babe and finding out if its a boy or a girl! <br />
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<img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-72220826178029808782015-01-12T20:31:00.001-07:002015-01-12T20:31:26.722-07:00Pregnant! + PrioritiesHappy 2015 everyone! But seriously, where did 2014 go?! I feel like I was just setting my New Years Resolutions and next thing I know I'm making the same goals for this year. haha. But seriously. This year is a crazy exciting, and crazy busy one for us. Brandon just started his fourth and final year of med school (!!!) which means this is our final year in Australia. Come December we'll be selling all our earthly possessions and moving home! It makes me kind of nervous to think about, so I try not to for now. Then there's residency applications, a couple of trips home, family coming to visit, and most importantly little baby Steedo joining our family in June! We seriously couldn't be more excited to be parents!<br />
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Its kind of funny really how much I feel like this little baby has changed my perspective on life in such a short time. Before I knew I was pregnant I spent a lot of time and energy on things that really don't matter. I wanted so badly to be a successful photographer and spent more time than I'd like to admit looking at other photographer's work and comparing my business to theirs. I wanted to have a studio where I could bring clients and sell them beautiful canvases and albums that I had on display. I wanted to shoot 30 weddings a year. My spare minutes of every day were spent brainstorming the next big business idea that was sure to make me famous. <br />
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And then October 20th came. We had been visiting some friends and their new baby the night before and Michelle was talking about the weekend she found out she was pregnant. She had mentioned to another (also pregnant) friend that she always felt hungry, but the thought of food made her nauseous, and her friend had her take a test right away. Positive. Well, that's kinda how I felt the morning of October 20. I had a couple of pregnancy tests at home, and over the past year had become very familiar with seeing one sad little line on that stick. But this time was different. A line showed up right away, and then TWO! I waited for B to get home from school before showing him, and after I explained that any two lines meant it was positive (one line was a bit faint), he gave me a big hug and a kiss. It was an exciting relief to know that in just a few months we'd be a family of THREE!<br />
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Since that day, everything has changed. I have found myself not worrying about becoming a great photographer (partly due to my lack of motivation for life during first trimester, I'll admit), and reflect often on the great examples of wonderful mothers around me. My own mother. My sister. My grandmothers. Sisters-in-law. Mother-in-law. I am so lucky to get to join them on this journey, and want to do everything I can to be the mom our little baby deserves. All of a sudden, that has become the only thing that matters. I am so much more aware of the things that make me happy in life, and have gotten rid of so many of the things that don't. (Ahem - unfollowing about a million people on instagram). Its so easy to get consumed by social media and the internet, but I just found that my response to things became very polarized, and if it didn't enrich my life in some way, out it went. I am finally taking the time to just enjoy life and the people around me, and I am <b><i><u>so</u></i></b> much happier for it.<br />
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So thanks, little babe, for helping me to realize what's important. I really am so blessed for this wonderful life that I have.<br />
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<br />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-74112476729476451602014-10-22T16:59:00.000-06:002014-10-22T22:56:19.827-06:00Cracker Lake<div class="mobile-photo">
Before I get started here, I just need to get something off my chest.
There's a few things I'm really good at, and a few that I'm not so
stellar at. For example, I'm really good at falling asleep during the
opening credits of a movie. I'm good at waking up to the birds outside
my window at 5:30 every morning. I'm good at putting a lot of time and
energy into my photography business. And I would even say that I'm
fairly decent at remembering to bring my camera along on some of our
adventures. </div>
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The list of things I'm not so great at is a lengthy list, and it most
definitely includes documenting our lives. I can't even count how many
pictures are on my computer of all our wonderful memories, only to be
lost in the abyss that is my macbook's hardrive. Like these pictures
for example. We hiked to Cracker Lake almost 2 months ago, and this is
the first time that I've even glanced at these pictures. So here's my
question to all you memory preserving masterminds - what's your system?
Because I need one. Something that I can put into my routine to stay
ontop of documenting this wonderful, crazy life that we have. Let me
know what works for you! </div>
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Anyways, enough of my ramblings and onto the
goods. When we were home this summer we decided that we wanted to go
on a backpacking trip once Brandon finished his exams. We basically had
2 days at the end of our trip, so it was then or never. And what do
you know, it snowed those days! Seriously we have the WORST luck with
hiking weather, but we always try and make the best of it anyways. And
to be honest, we just love being outdoors with each other no matter what
its like outside. We were thinking something relatively ambitious, but
due to the snow we decided to stick to something at a little lower
elevation and a little bit shorter. I had always seen pictures of this
gorgeous turquoise lake, so we decided Cracker Lake was our destination
and started our journey early that afternoon. </div>
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We
knew when we started that we were going to be in for a little bit of
snow, but we definitely underestimated just how much snow there was
going to be. By the time we got to the lake we were hiking through snow
half way to our knees and we realized we were in for a straight up
winter camp. Thankfully we brought my parents warm down sleeping bags
and dry clothes!<br />
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Brandon and I often have discussions about hiking gear and what we
like/don't like. Most of the time we agree, but one thing that we tend
to disagree on is hiking boots. You see, ever since I bought my first
pair of gore-tex Salomons I have never had so much as a hot spot, let
alone a blister. My feet NEVER got wet - even after backpacking the
West Coast Trail for a week. I swear those boots are the best pair out
there, and I would never wear anything else. Brandon, on the other
hand, is more of a rugged, real leather,
might-as-well-be-wearing-bricks-your-boots-are-so-heavy kinda guy. He
is constantly telling me how great his boots are, and that leather is
far better than any synthetic boot. Well, lets just say that he won on
this hike. My amazing never-fail boots ripped a seam, which meant cold,
wet feet for me. Add in weather of about 4 degrees, and my feet were
pretty much ice blocks by the time we got to camp. So as it
turns out, when I get cold, I pretty much become useless. Good thing I
have such a good husband that set up camp for us and cooked dinner while
I huddled in the sleeping bags in the tent to thaw out my feet!<br />
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The lake was absolutely gorgeous in the snow, and after a chilly night's sleep we hiked out the next morning. It was the perfect little winter backpacking trip, and we can't wait to be able to do more one day when we actually live close by! </div>
amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-4324425589513668242014-06-04T00:42:00.000-06:002014-06-04T00:44:12.786-06:00Moreton Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in February we went for a little getaway with a few friends to Moreton Island. Its an island about an hour offshore from Brisbane, and it is GORGEOUS! I'll let the pictures do most of the talking...</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgddQsTs8M_y34tsbjp6mNEenCqNQIWOgGl6g8J0LXMtmC3bBVVFEn3wS1aqTyStwqCxIBqn1pDCbXphnx-7aGzf4dFvmXhbVAZLhAnFPSWZYua9Xh6vWicKyJWKJM0lyhfxSsLcPgy3HE/s1600/moreton-island-adventures-of-the-steedos-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /> </div>
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There are no roads on the island, so we borrowed a couple of four wheel drives to get around the island on. Some worked better than others...<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_8CfPr0oc8N-hpr9QnyUkun3xIjhZ8xSn_2pLL6Fp5wvI3M0IocA1fgxY6LFuv3-U8GsV3JAay4MhHeMk89oxGQNpguA_rVvKnGtJZqzBUdmw-WDiNwa6ARbYAEiW6okO_di0VAS1Yg/s1600/moreton-island-adventures-of-the-steedos-7.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></div>
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This water though...I thought I had died on gone to heaven.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLPrK8GDBadU_uemeqMusrCeGZQuSLWtNCsz3Us7sZba5LJV0glQn9c9WNpSep0Q6j1Exk4K_FDyAGhH_CxSaMIw_5p8SBKj9uEbSJb_ZtiobZGf7PhI4m9NDt7_Y2tq9UiWGPNDtilg/s1600/moreton-island-adventures-of-the-steedos-11.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></div>
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The initial plan was for all of us to stay in these "glamping" tents (complete with a bathroom and flushing toilet!), but they didn't have enough available for the 7 of us. So B and I took one for the team and let the prego ladies have the glamping sites while we tented it. There's something about sleeping in a tent that I just love!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JC8Tcw9zn3I6HEhUAhecBxSVlfejnv0SFBi99_HMJfC1CModzemXSrGw3cQoVglKFk0wRvzrFoE_ldbmSbCSzkJHE_Vnhfh0bPHxhR-yNTXptvPUCGw2iKhn_brr6TR1VH6Zl_bHsSU/s1600/moreton-island-adventures-of-the-steedos-12.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></div>
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Our romantic Valentine's day photoshoot. haha.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_BG-MN6R9Gd8lf19hyphenhyphenNKrwogfTu0JZ0q8OfiCN4nZpcTh7JMHspV9ItgQVHywiLyGUDG3hyphenhyphenoCV0_3nNAGunlvfRMpY0pEK2VEajvwZ7h6r_gCJP4eLh2hF45cdg5OZVqQTI53DVF_ck/s1600/moreton-island-adventures-of-the-steedos-16.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></div>
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The next morning we drove up to one end of the island to do some exploring at Honeymoon Bay. My favorite place ever. Sadly I don't have many pics of it but if you come and visit I will show you myself! (shameless plug for visitors? maybe.)<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUXWT0LNkGv934tVZN2TNO7DzlwxSXFtOue2nq-F6MrHCeN2Dw5LQcL1SKVCIm6gtOCWl4v3VR7oEPrkW0BkmZiPHhUoUiIb0nkRqe3p501WJreXACKfsWAVFTDzQI87OV3Jz_e1FwrA/s1600/DSC01036.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></div>
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Saturday morning we headed back down to the Tangalooma Wrecks to do some snorkelling. Little did we know the massive current that would be there, and that we swam against it the whole time. At least I got my workout? haha. But seriously, the snorkelling was so sweet! The wrecks are made of 14 or so boats that were sunked intentionally to make an artificial reef. And it is swarming with fish, sting rays, and apparently the occasional reef shark. Well worth battling the current for! <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYWcLIITN0PN9TbRwjaJFoG5-VWkmD50u7EeiAACHZb9HrMxOeh45M3Tk9CAd-nPLfT0FENSw0hKC4-Aq-4CKvD1vZ0LAbF6NofxKFDJKXLlJXeWf-yJmx2vddTCVG5Z5R_gmJ9qFzHg/s1600/DSC01038.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></div>
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amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-88131905441294329232014-05-22T18:36:00.002-06:002014-05-22T18:42:38.096-06:00A video! A video!<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been wanting to make more videos of our travels lately, and I finally got around to making this one from our <a href="http://basteed.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/whitsundays.html" target="_blank">sailing trip</a> to the Whitsundays last Easter! I've got a lot to learn but it was so fun to make and remember all the little details from our trip! And next time I'll use a tripod so you don't feel like you're watching the Blair Witch Project. You're welcome.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="337" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/96134606?portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="599"></iframe></div>
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amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-49345377634755464902014-05-04T21:29:00.000-06:002014-05-04T21:51:46.919-06:00The Land of Hobbits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">New Zealand! What a beautiful place. Brandon is in rotations this year, which means he gets a full week off every 8 weeks. So we decided to take advantage of it and take a little trip to New Zealand. Being the mountain lovers that we are, it was so nice to do some real hiking again (no offence Australia) and spend some time in the mountains. I'll let the overload of pictures do most of the talking...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxDzknoidE4thBtXNQYc_BsPLVpJLj0HoMajeuODQ4G5CsGeJg8j-327TXOAjQsSP830Q2DSXh1Je1ZvxV5zaCUW6Nssnu0FyemUAfLeax1Rj4hO_vCrQdH7e8wvyPCeIwkUYMu-AVBo/s1600/new-zealand-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxDzknoidE4thBtXNQYc_BsPLVpJLj0HoMajeuODQ4G5CsGeJg8j-327TXOAjQsSP830Q2DSXh1Je1ZvxV5zaCUW6Nssnu0FyemUAfLeax1Rj4hO_vCrQdH7e8wvyPCeIwkUYMu-AVBo/s1600/new-zealand-2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
We flew into Queenstown on the Saturday, and decided right away that it reminded us a lot of Waterton. Little town in the mountains, a big long lake, delicious ice cream shops, and an amazing burger from <a href="http://www.fergburger.com/fullscreen.html" target="_blank">Ferg Burger</a>. We spent the afternoon walking around town and took some pictures of the amazing sunset on the lake, then headed to our camp at the <a href="http://www.top10.co.nz/parks/shotover/" target="_blank">Shotover Top 10</a> campground just a few minutes outside of Queenstown.<br />
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That night we FROZE. The only sleeping bags we have here are little thin things meant for an Australian summer's night. We went to NZ mid March, which is early fall. I had checked the weather before we left, and thinking that 18 degrees wasn't that cold, packed a few pairs of shorts and a light sweater, with one pair of jeans, just incase. (I failed to realize that a high of 18 degrees meant much colder nights). Needless to say, my attire the following nights included wearing my jeans, socks, a maxi dress, long sleeved shirt, sweater, scarf, and toque all at the same time. My towel also came in handy as an extra blanket.<br />
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Sunday morning we got up and went to <a href="https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng" target="_blank">church</a>, where I became the chorister and Brandon was asked to bear his testimony in the tiny Queenstown branch. I think there were 16 people there and 12 were visitors. We loved it though. One of my favourite parts about travelling is getting to meet so many different people are hear about their lives. The people in the Queenstown branch are so friendly and wouldn't you know it, one lady even remembered Grandma and Grandpa Steed from when they served a mission there years ago.<br />
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After church we started the drive to Milford Sound, where we spent the next couple of nights at the <a href="http://www.milfordlodge.com/" target="_blank">Milford Sound lodge</a> campground.<br />
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One thing about New Zealand - there are SO MANY SHEEP! And they're quite adorable, I have to admit. I couldn't resist taking a million pictures of them.<br />
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Milford Sound = land of the sandflies. Good thing its pretty :)<br />
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Monday morning we got up and did a little exploring, then went on a kayaking trip that afternoon. And by kayaking, I mean kayak sailing. Our guide was genius enough to bring a parachute so we linked our kayaks together and sailed for almost half of the 16km kayak trip. Harder than you would think, but it saved my arms!<br />
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Tuesday morning we packed up our tent and headed back toward Queenstown. We decided to do a hike along the way called Gertrude Saddle, which was supposed to have amazing views of the mountains and down toward Milford Sound. Unfortunately for us, our curse of bad hiking weather followed us to New Zealand, so when we got to the top we could only see a few feet because of the fog. We loved hiking through the valley though, and got some cool pictures up in the clouds. I guess we'll just have to go back one day to see the view!<br />
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The tunnel through the mountain on the way to Milford Sound. Once a year they celebrate the creation of the tunnel by running a race through it naked!<br />
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The only wildlife we saw on our hike:<br />
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Tuesday night we headed back to Queenstown, and decided to upgrade from our tent to a self contained cabin. Best. Idea. Ever.<br />
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Wednesday we decided to go for a low key day and drove a few minutes up the road to a quaint little town called Arrowtown. It was probably our favourite place of the trip! We had a little picnic, walked around town and the valley, and took a drive up the road to watch some random strangers bungy jump.<br />
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Crazies I tell ya.<br />
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Oh, and how could I forget?! We also made a stop at the Remarkable Sweet Shop to taste some fudge. I could have stayed there all day.<br />
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Thursday was hiking day again. I had seen some pictures of <a href="http://blog.markclintonphoto.com/newzealand1/" target="_blank">Mount Roy</a> and decided we needed to go there. And by we, I mean Brandon and I, and our good friend rainy weather. It was a bit of a trek straight up the mountain, but the short glimpse of a view that we got at the top (that we didn't take a picture of) was pretty spectacular.<br />
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Mt Aspiring in the distance was looking pretty spectacular too.<br />
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I had hauled my tripod with us to NZ in hopes of getting some sweet night shots, so Thursday night we went out to give it a try. The moon was pretty bright, which prevented us from getting really vivid stars, but you get the idea. So. Many. Stars.<br />
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Friday morning we did a little exploring near the Shotover river before we started our drive to Dunedin to see our friends Jon and Carly. They were such fantastic hosts and we must have REALLY enjoyed our time with them because I didn't even take a picture with them!<br />
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Told you there was lots of sheep!<br />
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Saturday we spent some time seeing Dunedin, including the Cadbury factory and some of the wildlife along the coastline. These seals weren't even phased by us.<br />
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Then Sunday we went to church again and caught our flight home! We loved seeing New Zealand and can't wait for our next adventure!<br />
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<a href="http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/aeamyerickson/media/amy_zpsa89341cb.png.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><span id="goog_100739125"></span><span id="goog_100739126"></span><img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" /></a>amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-31260927721037822482014-04-24T22:19:00.001-06:002014-04-24T22:19:13.966-06:00Facelift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have a bad habit of getting sucked into things really easily. When I was a teenager, I'd start cleaning the house and wouldn't stop until I have cleaned the whole thing top to bottom. (Who am I kidding, I still do that. My house is just a lot smaller now). If I'm reading a good book, I do nothing else until its done. Well, the most recent of my addictions has been web design. I finally got a few professional programs and have slowly figured out how to use them. Or at least enough to make it work.</div>
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Yesterday I woke up to a text from Jessica asking if I could tune up a few things on her blog. Which turned into a full fledged <a href="http://jezebelrich.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">work over</a>. But she and I will both tell you that it was much needed. So naturally, when I couldn't sleep at 1 AM and B had been sound asleep for hours, I did a little revamping of my own:</div>
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You like that display? I'm pretty proud of it. Mostly because it took me an hour to figure it out. Baby steps…<br />
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<img alt=" photo amy_zpsa89341cb.png" border="0" src="http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o726/aeamyerickson/amy_zpsa89341cb.png" />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-65682613174208106132014-04-10T00:39:00.001-06:002014-04-10T02:08:41.861-06:00Lucky.I noticed a common theme as I laid in bed this morning, getting my daily fix of bloglovin. Gratitude. EVERYONE was blogging about gratitude. And as the day went on, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the life that I have.<br />
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I'm grateful for good friends. We are very well taken care of here in Brisbane. Every time we get home from a night out with friends, we both just can't say enough good things about the people we have met here. We are lucky to have such great friends.<br />
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I'm grateful for the education that I have and the ability to work and help to provide for us right now, even if it is only a little bit.<br />
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I'm grateful for my testimony of the gospel and to be able to learn and grow each day.<br />
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I'm grateful for my health. I've seen some sad cases through work lately and I'm grateful for the body that I have and that it works like it should.<br />
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I'm grateful that I can drive around Brisbane without my GPS, and that I now know where to go to buy groceries. No really, I am.<br />
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I'm grateful for technology that keeps me in touch with this crew:<span id="goog_1406145092"></span><br />
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And last, but not least, I'm grateful for a loving husband that knows just what I need and is genuinely concerned about my wellbeing. I'm lucky to have him by my side.</div>
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<span id="goog_1406145091"></span>amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-41441698420182501622014-04-03T17:22:00.000-06:002014-04-03T17:22:17.168-06:00A love story.Being here in Australia means we are meeting a lot of new people - most of whom don't know our story, where we've come from, and how we ended up here. And I can't help but laugh when people ask us how we met. You could say our story is...not your typical love story. To be honest, I don't even remember the first time I met Brandon. It was sometime during the summer of 2007, and let's be honest here, I had a crush on him from the get go. What's not to love about a cute, friendly, life of the party type of guy? We were living in different cities at the time, but I always made a point of sending him a nonchalant Facebook message anytime I was heading to Lethbridge to "see where the parties were" that weekend. We'd run into each other on occasion, and brief conversations lead to hours of girl talk with the roomates overanalyzing every word. "He turns 25 this year, I'd be doing him a favor to date him. He's practically a menace to society" (ha!) I remember saying to my roomates. While on the other hand, I'm sure Brandon thought nothing of the brief exchange of words we had.<br />
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Well a few months went by, B started dating someone, and I was distracted enough by the Edmonton YSA scene to keep me occupied for the majority of the school year. For whatever reason though, summer has always seemed to bring us together somehow. I had run into Brandon (who was recently single) on a few trips home and was instantly reminded of his charm. I was in summer school, which meant the long distance crushing continued - but with the plethora of cute girls abounding in Southern Alberta during the summer, one happened to catch his eye, who happens to be a cousin of mine. About the same time, I was also distracted by a cousin of Brandon's, and wouldn't you know it, we were both soon "off the market" and dating each others cousins. I remember catching a ride to Edmonton with Brandon one Sunday (he had moved to Edmonton at this point) afternoon and it being so awkward! ("So, I'm dating your cousin, you're dating mine, but I used to have a big crush on you, and did you even know that? And - " kept going through my head). We managed a few double dates, which should have been more awkward than it was, and eventually things didn't work out on my end, which was for the better. A few months later, Brandon also became single again, although he was less happy about his breakup than I was mine.<br />
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April 2009. A little bit of time passed, and Brandon and I started spending more time together again. Commence overanalyzing round two. I remember him picking me up for the Institute Choir Concert and just the two of us going. I remember him stopping to talk to her for a few minutes, which I knew was a big deal, considering how depressed he had been following the breakup. We had a fun rest of the night, he dropped me off, and I thought things were all good. I ran into a couple of roomates of his the next day at the Institute, who began drilling me with questions of why he got home so late. I didn't think 9:30 was THAT late, but the questions quickly ended. And that night when he walked in holding hands with her at Color Night, I knew why.<br />
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Summertime soon rolled around and I spent as much time as I could in Waterton, hiking and spending time with friends. Along with a few other friends, we had booked a trip to hike the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island at the end of August. Brandon was recently single (again) and joined our crew, and we began spending time together every day to help organize and plan for the trip. We backpacked for a week, and were still friends after, so that was a bonus. Spending a week backpacking can make or break things you know! We progressively spent more and more time together, and made some progress one night while reminiscing on our trip. I had brought my computer over to share some pictures, and in the dimly lit basement, he slid his hand into my strategically placed hand. Our first official date was a few days later, and I just crossed my fingers the whole hockey game that the Oiler's "smooch cam" didn't zoom in on us! With about 6 other couples there, I just wasn't prepared for that awkwardness.<br />
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<br />
Long drives became a bit of a thing in the early, uncertain days of our relationship. A week or so into things, I could tell something was up with B. We still spent a lot of time together, but in a more-than-friends-but-I-can't-commit-to-dating-you kind of way. So naturally, we went for a drive, and I called him out on it. We spent the next hour driving up and down the city streets of Edmonton and Brandon explained his reasons for not being able to commit to anything right now. And as much as I hated to hear it, I couldn't help but appreciate his honesty and concern for my feelings, and I felt good about where things were at.<br />
<br />
At the end of September 2009, I moved to Canmore for my final practicum of nursing school. No doubt, Brandon was still in the back of my mind, and I figured this would give him some time and space to work things out. I visited Edmonton a time or two, and our paths crossed on occasion, but nothing more than that until I moved back to Edmonton the following January. And the cycle continues on! As one might expect, we starting spending time together again. I could tell B was being cautious about things, and we jumped back into the more-than-friends-but-not-dating category again. At least in my books anyway. Eventually we ended up going for another drive, where he gave me a really vague explanation of why we couldn't date, which after much discussion with my roomates, we decided he had a mail order bride coming. It was about the only thing that fit with his story. And again, I was weirdly okay with how things had left off.<br />
<br />
Okay, that's not entirely true. I was okay with it for a time. I ended up getting a job in Cardston at the end of March 2010, so I moved home to Southern Alberta, excited to make some money and be close to Waterton for the summer. Coincidentally Brandon ended up moving home about a month later, and it wasn't long before I heard that he was again off the market, with the same girl. All of a sudden his whole weird explanation made so much sense - he just didn't want to tell me that he still wasn't over her! And at that point I became convinced that he never would be. So I deleted his number from my phone and told myself that it was done. For REAL this time (ha!).<br />
<br />
I'll admit, for the next few months, I really was done with it. I moved on and was easily entertained by any new man that came along and wanted to take me out, and basically just cleared my mind of all the drama (self-inflicted or not) of the past little while. I had a few friends who were skeptical of my emotional detachment from Brandon, and thought that I was in denial and just putting on a front to guard myself. But I can promise that I was really over it! For a short time anyway...<br />
<br />
Halloween 2010. It was a Sunday, and naturally games night was happening, as often does in the YSA world on Sunday nights. I showed up to a small gathering of friends and was surprised when Brandon walked in the door and mentioned that he had just pulled into town from spending the weekend in Edmonton. I hadn't seen him around the YSA scene much since they had gotten back together, and I couldn't help but wonder what his current relationship status was. We exchanged a few brief words between games of Mafia, and at the end of the night, I wished him a happy birthday and we went on our separate ways. He came back into the YSA social scene soon after, and my questions of him being single again were confirmed. At that point, the fact was merely a point of interest to me, as I was a bit preoccupied by the boy next door, but slowly and surely, I allowed Brandon back into my phone, and eventually back into my life.<br />
<br />
Things started back up as friends, which I was totally okay with. At that point in time, previously mentioned boy next door had my attention, and B was just a fun guy to spend some time with. But then in December, the dynamic changed a bit when Brandon asked me to be his date to his work Christmas party. Now, I know a date isn't THAT big of a deal, but considering all the history that we had I figured I wouldn't be crazy in assuming there was maybe a little bit more there. Over time, I started to remember all of the reasons why I had fallen for Brandon in the first place, and I was soon conflicted between him and the boy next door. So I kept hanging out with both of them. After all, neither of them was making me choose or commit, so why should I?<br />
<br />
And once again, things took a bit of a turn on a Saturday night in January of 2011. I was at the church with the boy next door, practicing the piano while he studied and practiced the piano in a different room. It wasn't uncommon for us to go practice for a bit, and then usually one of us would invite the other over to play games, watch TED talks, or just to chat. But this night he was Mr. Moody and the thought of spending my Saturday night with him wasn't exactly appealing. B had given me a call while I was practicing the piano and was looking for something to do, so when I got home he came over with a couple of movies for us to watch. We chose Last of the Mohicans, sat in opposite corners of the sectional, and made ourselves comfortable. As the movie went on, the gap between us became smaller and smaller, until our arms were touching, which led to holding hands, cuddling, and then a kiss! I say he went 80, I went 20. He says it was the other way around. Jury's still out on this one.<br />
<br />
I was the first girl that Brandon had ever kissed that wasn't his girlfriend at the time. So naturally, I couldn't help but wonder what his intentions were following our first kiss. We spent some time together the following week snowmobiling and cuddling in front of the fire, but I would be lying if I said that boy next door didn't cross my mind. I was torn between the two, but rolling with what I had already started. I was leaving to Africa for two weeks in just a couple of days, so one night before leaving Brandon's house I brought up the "so...what are we?" conversation that I had become so comfortable with by now. Because of his past relationship, B wanted to take things really slow, so he wasn't ready to commit to dating just yet, but he also wasn't ready to stop hanging out. Perfect. Secret dating. And on that note, I took off to Africa.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure I owe Jade BIG TIME for that trip. The amount of times she had to hear my boy dilemmas over the next two weeks was ridiculous. "Well the boy next door is super smart and talented and we've been spending a lot of time together, but Brandon is just so much fun and I feel a bit more committed to him since we've kissed, but I don't want to stop hanging out with the boy next door, so...what do I do?!" And Jade, in all her wisdom, counseled me patiently that until one of them was forcing me to commit, that I didn't have to! So the day after I got home, B came over, and it was just the slightest bit awkward. I think because we both expected that the other would want to pick up where things left off, so when things didn't and neither of us pushed things, it was a bit surprising. Our relationship became strangely platonic, but that was okay. Valentine's Day soon followed, which consisted of an apologetic phone call from Brandon the day after saying that he meant to wish me a happy Valentine's day, but ended up working late. After that, we both went our separate ways, and to be honest, I don't remember interacting much with Brandon over the next few months. I think I got sidetracked by another boy or something.<br />
<br />
Summertime rolled around and doing sweet hikes was my number one agenda. I had been checking hikes off my list left and right, and my cousin Scott was planning a trip to climb Mt. Cleveland in August with a crew that included Brandon. We had hung out a bit during the summer and were pretty comfortable in the friend zone, so I expected the trip to be uneventful. Well let me tell you, if you want to avoid falling in love with a mountain man - don't go on a three day backpacking trip with him! After crossing some sketchy terrain and bushwhacking down a 10,000 foot mountain in the dark, how could I not get sucked back in after he led us to the safety of our camp? And not to mention that curly afro and six pack:<br />
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<br />
I digress. Anyways, it was game over after that trip. Once again, Brandon had shown me all of his wonderful qualities, and I just couldn't help myself. And apparently he couldn't either. Shortly after our trip Brandon starting coming over more often and started doing random favors for me, like picking up my hiking pants from my cousin Sarah's in Magrath as he was passing through. Over the next few weeks we spent more and more time together, and I remember one Sunday night drive as we headed to Clark's in Leavitt to play games. Brandon told me that he had some exciting news, but that I had to keep it a secret for now.<br />
<br />
"I got into med school!" Um...sweet! I knew he had been trying to get in for a little while, so I was super excited for him.<br />
<br />
"In Australia. I move there in January!" Not for one minute did I worry about what this would mean for our relationship. Its funny actually, but throughout all of the drama and bumps along the road, I always had a feeling that things would just work out between Brandon and me. I think we held hands for the (third) first time on that drive home, and had our (second) first kiss the next day while watching a romantic episode of Planet Earth.<br />
<br />
Before Brandon got accepted into med school, he had come up with a backup plan to work landscaping with his cousin Dave in Edmonton. Which meant he was going to be moving come September. So as things progressed along throughout the month of August, naturally the topic of "us" came up one night while we watched the Whoop Up Days fireworks from the pop top of my VW van. We eventually decided that we would date until Brandon moved and then do the long distance thing. I wasn't excited about the distance, and I tried to convince Brandon to just stick around Lethbridge until January, but something about being loyal to his cousin and being a man of his word made him pretty determined to go and help Dave out, even if it was just for a few months. So I was willing to work with what we had. In my mind a December wedding wasn't out of the question, but I should have known that Brandon didn't make important life choices on a whim. Eventually the distance didn't work out, but our paths still crossed on occasion over the next couple of months.<br />
<br />
Then came December. Brandon moved back to Lethbridge, and within a day we were having our (not so) secret Christmas fling. We spent a lot of time together, and I counseled with my confidant Cristy a LOT about what to do/say when Brandon left.<br />
<br />
"Do you love him?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah...I think I do!" I'm pretty sure that was the first time that I had ever confessed to loving Brandon Steed. I'm sure it wasn't the first time that I did love him, and I couldn't quite pinpoint when my feels had changed from a crush to love. But at that point in time, I just knew that I did. And I knew that I would regret it if I let him move to Australia without telling him.<br />
<br />
Cristy and I discussed the options at length and decided that the best approach was to wait until the night before Brandon left to tell him how I felt. That way, if it made things awkward I wouldn't have to deal with it. Brandon later informed me that this was the worst possible time to say something, but Cristy and I decided it was a win-win. Either it would freak him out and he would never want to talk to me again, which he wouldn't have to since he'd be living in Australia. Or he could have something to stew over for the 24 hour plane ride and we could see where things went from there. Judging by the way things turned out, I think it was the right choice. Brandon came over the night before his flight left and we went out and delivered some Christmas hampers for his parents, then ended up back at my house. He still had packing to do and wasn't planning on staying long, but I just had to get my two cents in before he left. I had him open his belated Christmas present (a Lonely Planet for Australia), and then stumbled through my own thoughts to try and get the words out. After what seemed like an eternity of silence with my heart pounding through my chest, I said it.<br />
<br />
"I love you."<br />
<br />
Followed by a bunch of other rambling about how I didn't how long I had felt this way, and that I didn't expect that anything would happen from me saying it. I just knew I would regret it if I didn't.<br />
<br />
It definitely caught Brandon off guard, and I can still remember the shock on his face. I think he was expecting more of an "I'm going to miss you" instead of the L bomb. But he handled it well as he proceeded to tell me how much he appreciated our friendship and the fact that I didn't hate him after all these years. He thanked me for treating him so well, and apologized for the fact that although he thought of me as more than a friend, he couldn't say that he loved me at that point in time. I expected that. If I had learned anything about Brandon by now, it was that he wanted to be very sure of how he felt before he said anything. A few hugs, kisses, and a tear or two later, we said our final goodbyes and Brandon headed home.<br />
<br />
The next few weeks were a whirlwind for both of us. Brandon arrived in Brisbane, got settled, and started school, while I moved to Edmonton to start a new job in Intensive Care. I got a Facetime call from Brandon one night and it was so great to see his face! Initially we talked about once a week, and as time went on the calls became more and more frequent. Meanwhile, I was going on dates with a few guys in Edmonton, one in particular who was quite persistent. Were it not for the fact that I didn't want to stop talking to B I may have ended up dating Mr. Persistent, but I just didn't feel like I could string them both along.<br />
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Brandon and I didn't talk about "us" very often, but one night it came up somehow and we both agreed that our virtual relationship could only go on for so long. Since I was the one with the full time job and the ability to take time off, I threw out the idea of me going to Australia for a visit when Brandon had Easter holidays. As if the L bomb hadn't freaked him out enough already! Initially he wasn't too keen, but after I assured him that I wouldn't expect a proposal if I came, he gave me the go ahead to book my ticket.<br />
<br />
April rolled around and I don't know if I was more excited or scared to see Brandon again. And what would I do when I first saw him? A hug? Kiss him? Handshake?! Luckily I didn't have to deal with any of that awkwardness because as soon as I got down the escalator, I was greeted with a kiss and a welcoming embrace. The fourteen days following we saw the sights of Australia together, dove on the Great Barrier Reef, and enjoyed each others company. And of course, the discussion clarifying our relationship status was inevitable.<br />
<br />
"So, if people ask if we're dating when I get back to Edmonton, what am I supposed to tell them?"<br />
<br />
"What do you want to tell them?" Sneaky. He always finds a way to answer my questions with the same question I just asked. So I called him out on it and after a brief discussion we decided that we were together. Or dating. Or a couple. Or whatever you want to call it. Not that it changed anything between us, except the fact that we could make it known to the general public. The two weeks passed quickly and soon we were back at the airport, saying our goodbyes. I hate goodbyes. I shed a couple of tears and started the journey back to Canada, not knowing for sure when I would see Brandon again.<br />
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<br />
After I got home our virtual relationship continued, but it wasn't long before we started to discuss how things were going to work out between us. We both decided that it would be in the best interest of our relationship if we could see each other again, and Brandon had two weeks off at the end of June. To our dismay, flights were insanely expensive, and we both succumbed to the fact that that it just wasn't realistic. Or at least I thought both of us did. Until one night Brandon asked what my plans were those two weeks, and if I could pick him up at the airport when he flew in. My jaw must have hit the floor. Brandon's a pretty frugal guy, and I knew that med school was costing him a pretty penny, so I hadn't even considered the option of him booking an expensive flight to see me. I guess you can't put a price tag on love! (That's what we kept telling ourselves, as we bought plane ticket after plane ticket).<br />
<br />
He flew into Edmonton on a Sunday night, and I swear I watched a thousand people walk through the security doors before he did. Seven other flights landed before Brandon's, and at one point I started to wonder if it was some sort of cruel joke, and that he wasn't actually coming. But then he came! Our reunion was even sweeter than the last. And the next two weeks were pretty much the best. We went for bike rides around Edmonton, barbequed together, and drove Wesley to Waterton for a picnic and had to push start him when he wouldn't start. We rode horses, played with the nieces, went fishing with my dad, and visited with friends. And late one night in my parents basement after watching Rio, Brandon told me he loved me. I knew he had felt that way for a little while now, but it was so good to finally hear those words come out of his mouth.<br />
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By the end of Brandon's trip, we both knew things were headed toward marriage, so we discussed a few of the logistics of how that was going to work. Brandon was coming home for a couple months in October, but we didn't want to wait that long to get engaged because we didn't want a Christmas wedding. Too hectic. We played around with the idea of meeting up in Hawaii for a weekend so neither of us would have to travel quite so far, but in the end it was just easier if I went back to Australia. No complaints here! And with that I booked a lengthy 8 day trip to Australia for September.<br />
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Then came the issue of the ring. Yes, I would need an engagement ring I suppose. We tried on a few while Brandon was visiting, but I wasn't completely sold on any of them. When Brandon got back to Australia he starting looking and was continually asking me questions about what I wanted. Solitaire or multiple diamonds? Halo or no halo? Diamonds on the band or no? Round or princess cut? Did I want him to choose, or did I want to pick it? So many decisions! Not to mention you never know what its going to look like on your hand. I wanted Brandon to pick something he liked too, but I was never sold on any of the rings he showed me. I had been looking on Etsy at some rings with other stones, and just kept going back to one in particular. It was a thin rose gold band with tiny diamonds, and an oval cut peach sapphire as the center stone with a halo. I was a bit nervous about choosing a ring that I had never tried on, but when I mentioned the ring to Brandon and he said he thought about getting something other than a diamond, I decided then and there that that was the perfect ring for me.<br />
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So September came and I hopped on a plane to Australia to go get engaged. The ring could only be shipped to Canada, so I tucked it in my purse and it was all I could do not to wear it and show everyone how pretty it was. I gave it to Brandon as soon as we got back to his house, and I swear for the rest of the week he carried it with him EVERYWHERE! He claims that was the only way to keep the proposal a surprise, and he's probably right. He only threw me off once, when he got down on one knee as we were on a romantic walk along the river one night, only to ask me if we could go home. But then, on Saturday, September 15, 2012, after a day of driving and exploring down the coast, we stopped at Burleigh Heads right before sunset. We hiked up to a lookout and enjoyed the beauty of the coastline at dusk, and Brandon started saying all sorts of nice things about me. Then next thing I knew he was down on one knee asking me to be his wife! The only words I could get out were, "You know I will!" as I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tight.<br />
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I guess you could say the rest is history. We were married in the Cardston Temple for time and all eternity on November 24, 2012 surrounded by our dearest family and friends (but that's a post for another day). Our life is a never-ending adventure and there's nobody that I'd rather be with than Brandon. He is the most patient, hardworking, loving husband, and he's the best thing in the world for me. Definitely worth the wait :) Love you B!<br />
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<br />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-25767800014201355592014-02-05T20:28:00.000-07:002014-02-05T20:28:02.462-07:00Whitsundays!<div style="text-align: center;">
Flashback to that time we went to the Whitsundays and it was the best trip ever! Seriously, if you ever visit Australia, this. is. a. must. Definitely our favourite place we've been to so far. When we were planning our trip we looked at a few options, but given our budget, we ruled out a luxury holiday on Daydream Island pretty quick. We knew the Whitsundays were known for the sailing experience, so we decided to splurge a little on a 3 day sailing trip, and camped the rest of the week in Airlie Beach to save some cash. If I could do it again, I'd do it the exact same way. It was perfect!</div>
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We chose a smaller sailboat for our trip - a catamaran with 8 passengers, a skipper, and a waitress/chef girl. We opted out of the 25 person party boat this time, mostly because the menu of the catamaran sucked me in. Fresh fruit non stop and chicken and steak for dinner sounded way better than noodles and sandwiches. </div>
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Excuse all the selfies…its the only way we know how to take pictures together...</div>
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These next couple of pictures don't do any sort of justice, but the sky down here is AMAZING! Fun fact - you can actually see more stars in the southern hemisphere because it points toward the Milky Way, rather than away. And let me tell you, when you stay on a boat anchored in a bay in the midst of a bunch of islands - stars for DAYS! I tried to take some long exposures, but turns out that doesn't work so well when you're on a boat...</div>
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We woke up bright and early on day 2 and headed to the famous Whitehaven beach! Its seriously incredible. The silica sand is super white, fine, and doesn't heat up! We spent the morning wandering around the beach, swam with a few rays, and explored around.</div>
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Of course, had to get a picture in our matching "Dudley 50/50" shirts!</div>
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After we left Whitehaven beach, we headed over to a bay off Hook Island to do some snorkelling. But on the way we ran into some friends! A whole bunch of dolphins! And then I died.</div>
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We got back into town on Wednesday (day 3) and headed to the campground to set up our site. And lucky for us, Mr. Wallaby decided to welcome us there.</div>
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The next couple days were spent wandering around Airlie Beach, lounging by the pool, and eating, naturally. We decided to get ambitious and go for a hike, so we took the bus up the road to Shute Harbor and got off at our trailhead. Turns out people don't do much hiking around Airlie, because we seriously got dropped off in the middle of nowhere, and didn't see a soul (except 1 trail maintenance worker) the entire day.</div>
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And why don't we have pictures of the gorgeous view of the islands? Oh, because it POURED RAIN on us. Then cleared when we were half way down. Maybe next time?</div>
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After our awesome hike, we hopped back on the bus to see what all the hype was about in Shute Harbor. Well, there is no hype. We heard a lot of trips go out from Shute Harbor, so we kind of expected it to be like a mini Airlie Beach. Instead we walked up and down the pier, which took all of 10 minutes, shared a lime milkshake from the only shop in sight, and waited for the bus to take us back into town.</div>
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Now everyone come visit us and go sailing in the Whitsundays! </div>
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But seriously.</div>
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amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-18811518342448821462014-01-29T23:13:00.000-07:002014-01-30T00:14:03.975-07:00101 Update!<div style="text-align: left;">
Okay, so this one <span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="time"><span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="time"><span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="time">time</span></span></span> I made a <a href="http://basteed.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/101-in-1001.html" target="_blank"><span class="" placeholder="list"><span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="list">list</span></span></a> of 101 things I wanted to do in 1001 days. Some of the things on the <span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="list"><span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="list">list</span></span> were pretty simple, and some were a bit more ambitious. Well, I've hit the 1001 mark. And by that I mean I hit it 2 years ago. So this <span class="" placeholder="list"><span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="list">list</span></span> has slowly evolved into my lifelong bucket <span class="a0x192FFC" placeholder="list"><span class="" placeholder="list">list</span></span>. I've made a few adjustments to the original <span class="" placeholder="list"><span class="" placeholder="list">list</span></span>, but here's an update of a few things I've checked off!</div>
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6. Pay off my <span class="" placeholder="student loans"><span class="" placeholder="student loans"><span class="" placeholder="student loans">student <span class="" placeholder="loans">loans</span></span></span></span>. How good does it feel to be debt free?! Except then I married a med student...one day...</div>
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7. Take a photography course. A few years ago (yeah, its been that long since I've updated this <span class="" placeholder="list"><span class="" placeholder="list">list</span></span>!) I took an <span class="" placeholder="online"><span class="" placeholder="online"><span class="" placeholder="online">online</span></span></span> lifestyle photography course from Brooke Snow. It was so great, and I loved actually taking pictures for myself. Something I always could do more of. My personal favorite from the course:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="800" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216419975/player/b29dc7e90d" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="534"></iframe> </div>
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16. Write a missionary every month for a year. I can't even stand the fact that Max gets <span class="" placeholder="home"><span class="" placeholder="home"><span class="" placeholder="home"><span class="" placeholder="home">home</span></span></span></span> in THREE WEEKS! Seriously, so crazy. If he's old enough to be a returned missionary, then I must be REALLY old. I definitely could have been more dilligent with writing him, but at least I got in an email a month! I wasn't able to be there when he got set apart as a missionary, so we had a little facetime the night before he left. This is Max to a T. Huge smile on his face and SO excited to be a missionary!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216610053/player/100da82ff2" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> </div>
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21. Host a dinner party. Last year we got a group of friends together on a random Sunday between American and Canadian Thanksgiving to have a turkey dinner of our own and show the Aussies how its done. I can't take ALL the <span class="" placeholder="credit"><span class="" placeholder="credit">credit</span></span> for this one, but I helped in the planning and cooked the turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, so I'm totally counting it. (and #63 - cook a turkey dinner!)<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="426" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216445235/player/3a58a51cd8" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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22. Put $100 away each month for a year. As soon as I grew up and got a real job, my dad told me I should probably go an see a financial advisor. Now THAT is grown up. I pretty much knew nothing when it comes to RRSPs, investments, <span class="" placeholder="taxes"><span class="" placeholder="taxes"><span class="" placeholder="taxes">taxes</span></span></span>, and the works, but I did manage to figure a few things out after talking to him and made my monthly investment. I'll thank myself for that measley amount of <span class="" placeholder="money"><span class="" placeholder="money">money</span></span> one day when I try to retire but find out the baby boomers stole all the pensions!
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31. Get a 70-200 2.8 L series lens. This one is edited from the original "Get a fisheye" lens, since the cool factor of the fisheye has lost its appeal. But the 70-200. WOW. Let me tell you, it will break your bank account, but it is worth every penny!</div>
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34. Tag along with a professional <span class="" placeholder="wedding"><span class="" placeholder="wedding">wedding</span></span> photographer. This pretty much sums up my whole last year. I was able to shoot with 5 other photographers last year at 10 different weddings, with another 3 of my own. I always love to second shoot and <span class="" placeholder="watch"><span class="" placeholder="watch">watch</span></span> the way other people shoot. Learn something new every <span class="" placeholder="time"><span class="" placeholder="time"><span class="" placeholder="time">time</span></span></span>!</div>
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35. Go scuba diving (again!). I should put this back on the <span class="" placeholder="list"><span class="" placeholder="list">list</span></span> just so I have an excuse to go again. We went diving when I visited Brandon a couple years ago and let me tell you, nothing, NOTHING beats the Great Barrier Reef!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="800" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216622643/player/cc61938900" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe> </div>
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38. Hike Vimy to Crypt Lake. This hike had been on my to-do <span class="" placeholder="list"><span class="" placeholder="list">list</span></span> pretty much since I was a kid. I remember growing up listening to my dad talk about his more adventurous days, and I always thought of Vimy to Crypt as the hike that would top them all. And it didn't disappoint! We hiked it with a great crew, amazing views, and were completely and utterly exhausted by the end (thanks Low brothers for the boat pickup and the hot dogs that awaited us!)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12217037716/player/c773be89b1" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> </div>
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40. Go on a ridealong with STARS. I've always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so the thought of working for STARS one day is kind of appealing. As it turns out, as soon as you are legally registered as a nurse in Alberta, you can apply and spend the day with them. The day I went there were two calls, both of which we were asked to turn around from when we were halfway there, but what can you do. At least I still got a free helicopter ride over the Rockies!
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="640" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216418645/player/c28fce5f75" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="480"></iframe> </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8233119329490646775" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8233119329490646775" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>41. Sew myself 3 dresses. My mother would likely be appalled at the quality of my sewing, but its a work in progress.</div>
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55. Attend a musical I've never seen before. Wicked was incredible. Who cares if our seats were on the back balcony, I could have sat and sang with Alfaba that whole play.</div>
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85. Design a photography logo. I rebuilt my <a href="http://www.amysteedphotography.com/" target="_blank">website</a> last year and it was so much work, but I am so happy with the results! Thanks to Brandon's cousin Anna for helping me out!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="129" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216693103/player/6b09b61e6d" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="468"></iframe> </div>
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91. Make <span class="" placeholder="chocolates">chocolates</span> with my mom. I'm on the fence about whether or not my half hearted effort gets to count for this one. I did roll a couple batches of fondant this year though, so I guess it counts for something. One day I'm actually going to get brave enough to make some of my own! Then I'll REALLY need help.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="427" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216850574/player/5d966766ed" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> </div>
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92. Backpack Stony Indian Pass. And while we're at it, why not go to the summit of the tallest mountain in Waterton-Glacier? I could write a whole blog post about this trip, and maybe some day I will. But for the <span class="" placeholder="time"><span class="" placeholder="time"><span class="" placeholder="time">time</span></span></span> being I will say this. It was the hardest thing I have ever done, and the most epic view I have ever had. And yes, I would do it again.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49883689@N08/12216442115/player/0d1866f300" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> </div>
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101. Buy a hammock and sleep in it. Not much of a story here. I did it. And I loved it. And I would do it again!
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amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-64185136736496939602014-01-10T14:15:00.000-07:002014-01-10T14:15:33.772-07:002014Its crazy to me that another year has gone by already! It seems like just yesterday that I was dropping Brandon off at the airport to come back to Australia, while I (im)patiently waited for an email telling me my visa was approved. And so much has happened since then! One day I'll catch up on blogging about it all...maybe.<br />
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I've always loved New Years Resolutions. Not that I'm great at making or keeping them, but I love to reflect on the past year and set a few goals to improve myself. And I've noticed that I'm really good at setting big elaborate goals, and not so good at keeping them. So this year, I'm just going for improvement. Perfection will come one day, but for now, all I need is a step in the right direction.<br />
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<u><i>My 2014:</i></u><br />
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<b>Read more</b>. This has always been a struggle for me. I blame my ADD for not being able to sit for more than 10 minutes without getting up and doing something else. But I really do love it when I actually sit down and read! The last few books I've read have been great, and I'm always looking for suggestions!<br />
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<b>Detach myself from technology/social media</b>. I don't even want to know how many hours of my life I have wasted scrolling through Facebook feeds. Don't get me wrong, its a wonderful way to keep up on everybody's lives, especially when we live so far away, but I know I can cut WAY back.<br />
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<b>Get back in shape</b>. Not because I feel like I need to lose a few
pounds (although I probably do) or get a six pack and a thigh gap, but
because I know how good I feel when I exercise regularly. Those
endorphins can do wonders I tell ya!<br />
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<b>Have productive mornings</b>. I've always said how much I would love to get up early, eat a good breakfast, exercise, have a good half hour scripture study sitting at a table, and be showered and ready for the day by 8 or 9. Its time to make that my reality instead of my current roll out of bed at 9 and lounge around half the day.<br />
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<b>Document our life more</b>. Starting with making our wedding album and a 2013 photo book. Blog more. Play around with video. Take more pictures of us. <br />
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<b>Explore</b>. We've seen some incredible places around Australia, but I've got a lengthy list of more places to discover!<br />
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There are plenty more things I'd like to do, but I think that's a good start!<br />
<br />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-35066110799627586992013-12-11T18:56:00.002-07:002013-12-11T18:56:59.516-07:00Follow us!<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10865173/?claim=bbvpq3dxfg2">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-74691923088773642792013-10-09T18:13:00.002-06:002013-10-09T18:13:54.204-06:00We're Coming Home!Mark your calendars people. November 13 we're coming home for EIGHT WEEKS! And we're super excited about it. I'll be doing some photography sessions as well, so email me at amysteedphotography@gmail.com to book a spot! See you soon!<br />
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<br />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-53566898009434937762013-09-29T00:56:00.000-06:002013-09-29T00:56:04.136-06:00River Fire!For the past month, the annual Brisbane festival has been going on. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Bank_Parklands" target="_blank">Southbank</a> has been bustling with people, markets, and a nightly laser show. And last night was the finale of it all - the River Fire firework show. We were lucky enough to have friends that live in a high rise apartment that overlooks the river, which gave us the perfect view of the fireworks without having to fight the crowds. Pair that with a delicious barbeque, a few rounds of Maffia, and homemade mango white chocolate cheesecake and it was the perfect night!<br />
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<br />amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-19527561204547117752013-09-22T05:41:00.001-06:002013-09-22T05:42:30.295-06:00We're Alive!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We're alive! Its crazy how fast time flies...I feel like we just moved to Australia, but in just 51 days we'll be on our way home for Christmas...which means a whole year down. Crazy! But life is great here in Brisbane. So here's a little update on us:</div>
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Brandon is staying busy with school and will officially be halfway done medical school come November! He's in the Elder's Quorum presidency, so between the two he stays fairly busy. And as for me, I've gone from being an unemployed, stay at home wife to working a couple of jobs. Totally should have milked the stay at home wife while I had the chance! But someone's gotta bring home the bacon. haha. So I'm working full time in Pediatric Intensive Care at a nearby hospital and doing <a href="http://www.amysteedphotography.com/" target="_blank">photography</a> the weekends. And I just jumped onto the <a href="http://lotsascents.scentsy.com.au/" target="_blank">Scentsy</a> boat, so between the three I'm staying pretty busy too! I just got called into the Young Women's Presidency today, so I'm pretty excited about that. I haven't been in Young Women's since I was a teenager, so it'll be fun.</div>
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Anyways, we've got heaps to catch everyone up on, but we decided this blog was a good way of keeping everyone up to date! We try to get out and see Australia as much as we can when we've got time off, so here's a few pictures from our trip to Sydney a couple months ago! We went in June, so it was a little cool, but it didn't stop us from having a great time. We stayed in a hotel right under the Harbor Bridge, which was the perfect location. Close to the sites and heaps of good food. We toured the Opera House, took the ferry to Manly Beach, went to the markets, visited Chinatown, and of course, made a Costco run (that $2 hot dog was SO worth the 2 hour journey). We're loving life!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSvlGrGO0ZB3S0XryY8GRoEVU6_VWSNQwBM9XUZJoQatHDae5b83YxI9usy5lumt-Pb1G-oznCp4q8ZgcGKe9XogQucYq15Ah2LKL4wcR10Ui849ybZ3Vgo9dVUjQ6qMobGhBMxMy9MQ/s1600/3A1A0650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSvlGrGO0ZB3S0XryY8GRoEVU6_VWSNQwBM9XUZJoQatHDae5b83YxI9usy5lumt-Pb1G-oznCp4q8ZgcGKe9XogQucYq15Ah2LKL4wcR10Ui849ybZ3Vgo9dVUjQ6qMobGhBMxMy9MQ/s640/3A1A0650.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This hall was too incredible for words. <img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zJy9USCn1wltEdZvGy2UZxaM5a6qwxOi6Gm_7Uj2tcAbLPV1AHDj2kZvbUTMMlbpnCUQ_UHrnonYFZJjMPD9bWTvDJqJ9IZ-AwNutIFGAOfkDPL3gkg0AHXbTQp86rETh9-qXbiSqxM/s640/3A1A0638.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Brandon wouldn't let me go to Luna Park...I just can't figure out why!</div>
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The hotel we stayed at:</div>
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Pancakes on the Rocks did not disappoint! B's breakfast of chocolate pancakes topped with thick cream, chocolate ice cream, strawberries, and chocolate sauce was clearly delicious AND nutritious!<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvxs47-Dx0Aoej06HfTw_fO9P_hnGknTkHw4AqSZhNBRpVKeHByMOp2xPylcGjgB-Lxpsr5jUaf1Mu7hLPFz5x9ddj8JV-SdVUq2HFp7A03UfbGW44N2qRdXnI8njSgxgB_04J3DvT3k/s400/IMG_3241.JPG" width="400" /></div>
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And of course my breakfast of banana pancakes topped with thick cream, ice cream, and carmel sauce was equally delicious.</div>
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Our last day in Sydney it POURED rain, so we went to the aquarium. Both of us didn't expect much, but it was actually really impressive! Of course I didn't take many pictures (I need to work on that...) but it was sweet!</div>
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Pancakes on the Rocks again? How did that happen?!</div>
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So there's a quick little update on our lives! More updates to come!</div>
amysteedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15470353792644196336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233119329490646775.post-89655046678860904282013-06-04T03:50:00.000-06:002013-06-04T03:50:30.160-06:00Blast from the Past<div style="text-align: center;">
"Everyone hold still while Susie adjusts all the settings manually on her camera!" was not an uncommon request at family gatherings while I was growing up. My mom was often found with a 35mm Pentax in hand, documenting family gatherings and vacations, while attempting to keep track of four bustling children. </div>
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And there was a certain excitement that sparked in our home whenever my dad would go down to the garage and pull out the slide projector. We knew what the evening ahead held in store for us - a night of beautiful images and stories of mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies, or reminiscing of days spent in Austria. And we were excited.</div>
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I could write a dozen novels about the things that I have learned from my parents. They have been wonderful examples to me of the type of person that I should be and the things that I should strive to achieve. And they have taught me to document my life well. Every birthday, every piano recital, every family vacation, and every Christmas (complete with Santa picture and Christmas morning stair picture!) has been well documented in my life, and I am grateful for that. And how exciting is it going to be when I have kids of my own, and I can show them all of the wonderful things I have been able to experience!</div>
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So mom and dad, thanks for all the memories, and thanks for documenting them so I can relive them for years to come.</div>
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