Oh Shoot

I got to do a little photo shoot of London today while our good friend Shye watched Kingston for me. I am loving all the time I have had to spend with my kids and that I have had time to blog it too. So great!

(Click image to view more pics of London)

What a load of Pics!

How quickly headbands become sleeping masks.
First Smile. (she only smiles in her sleep of course)
She is the perfect little sleeper, she is sleeping through the night already... for now anyways. She must love me.
My little Doll as Rennai refers to her. She is really small now but it's still fun to play dress up.

At First Site

Lovin' on Lo
Tuckered out mamma
The Crosby's came to visit! We had to pack in like a can of sardines but I was so excited for all of them to meet London.
Kingston meets London. He gave a few kisses but then he only cared about his lollipop.

Mr. Right for Me.

I know it's a wee bit late but I never got the chance to post about my Valentine surprise. I love every chance I get to brag about my man so prepare yourself because I will be covering every detail.

I asked Bret not to plan anything for me so he could truly focus on studying for his finals (our life story, i know) so when our friend Shye called and had some cookies for me to pick up I didn't think anything of it. She also offered to watch Kingston for the day so I could rest and I still didn't think anything of that. Rennai had planned to spend the day with me so she came along to drop him off. When I got there Shye was acting silly. She magically had all of KB's stuff and his pack n play for his nap. She also had an envelope for me with "My Sweet Lady" written on it with the following letter inside.

"It's Valentine's Day, Did you think I forgot?
Come on now baby, of course not.

Although I've been busy I'm not that lame,
This year you'll be playing a little Valentine's game.

I'm sending you on a hunt all over town,
You'll have to figure out some clues, are you down?

Each place reminds me of what I love about you,
Because I am the luckiest guy to have a love so true.
(insert my tears here)

You might get a little present along your way,
to help you remember and enjoy this special day.

Flowers and chocolates will not be involved,
I'm sure you'll have no problem getting this puzzle solved.

You're now ready for your first clue,
Get to it babe, you know what to do!"

(Bret stayed up till 2:30am getting the following day ready for me and then he spent the whole rest of the day and night studying so you know how much he sacrificed for me. I love him.)

"Clue #1 - I fell in love with your spiritual side, the spirit in you will always abide.
The gospel is taught here, you thirst for more, Clue #2 will be found near the back door."

We headed over to our church building and it took me a while to find my clue. (I had to text Bret) haha.

"Clue #2 - I love how much you like to have fun, You can always make me laugh, even when I think you're done.
This is one of your favorite places to go, ask a D&B employee for the next clue, he'll know."

At this point I had to go home and put some actual clothes on. (You know, like a bra and shoes, haha) So here we are driving to Dave and Busters.

The D&B guy gave me the next clue...

"Clue #3 - You're so smart, I love that a lot, You expand your mind, you don't let it rot.

The next place is close, no need to go far, a bookstore employee has the clue, then back to the car."

This clue came w/ a gift card to D&B yay my favorite!!!! Party time!

"Clue #4 - You've got mad skills, I'm not gonna lie, I love your creativity and your stylish eye. Look somewhere near the cool red door, Take some pics while you're there of clue #4"
I got another fat gift card to Barnes and Noble. I LOVE books! (Twilight plug in the back there)

"Clue #5 - I love how you're such an amazing friend, You never betray, your true to the end. You meet your friends here to share "volva?" I think, look under a table not by a sink."
(recognize the door anyone?)
The Street is where Rennai and I go for BOBA alllll the time so while we were there we of course had to get Boba Smoothies with one of the gift cards that came with my clue.
Can you say YUM!
"Clue #6 - The Greatest thing about loving you, Is I can do it forever because you said "I do." This place makes our marriage never die, I'll meet you there to tell you I.L.Y. (text me when you get this so I can meet you at the temple)"
I loved driving all over town trying to figure out all the clues (good thing you were there Rennai to help me) and getting all my gift cards, but this was my favorite part of Valentines. I met Bret at home so we could get dressed then went to the temple to do sealings. (I'm sure I was a sight to see in my get up with my 9 month belly... The sealer looked concerned haha.) This was one of the best temple experiences ever for me. It was one of the times I've been lucky enough to remember how I felt the day we got married. I was just short of sobbing while kneeling there across from my Bret, thankful for the moment to truly look at him and acknowledge how incredibly lucky I am that he ended up with the likes of me. He is so hot too, sometimes I have to take a step back and really look at him and appreciate how sexy he is. YUMMY YUM YUM. How lucky for me to be sealed to him with the strongest bonds available to mankind. If you're gagging on my corny fairy tale by now don't worry I am done. I just HAD to tell all. Ily baby!

(if there are any miss spelled words it is my own doing and not the reflection of Bret's spelling or grammar, his strengths make up for my weaknesses.)

WHERE'S MY BABY!!!!

Last night I went in to say goodnight to my mom and Kingston. Kingston had already been asleep for a long time so when I looked at his empty bed my heart about jumped out of my throat. I kept saying "where's my baby!?!?". The lights were off so I checked the floor and all around and I just kept panicking....
Bret ran to the room after I yelled for him and suggested we check under his bed. I didn't even think he could fit under there but sure enough this is what we found. Bret got him out from under the bed and put him back in his place. Crisis averted.

Strawberry Sweetie

Today London had her first doctor appointment. We got her dressed all perty like in her strawberry outfit from her aunt Aubrey. I just had to take pictures of her berry sweet outfit. She was so good at her apt. She is in the 50th percentile for her Height and Head and in 25th for her weight. She has made everything so easy for mommy I am just so lucky. I will try and post more pictures from the hospital and such soon but these just couldn't wait.

Miracles Come in Threes

I have the greatest husband who sweetly gave the detailed story of London's birth in spectacular detail. Bret is blessed with the ability to articulate so well but I still wanted to share the experience as well now that I can somewhat think clearly again.

The 19th was a day of miracles for us Crosby's. There were so many tender mercies that day and through out my whole pregnancy but 3 really lasting miracles especially.

As you know Bret has been tormenting himself by studying hard for his Masters program and for his final CPA exam. His only request was that London stay put inside me until after his last final on Thursday. Even though I didn't think my labor contractions were very serious Wednesday night I did worry that Bret might have to miss his final. I told him to go about his day as if nothing were happening and to stay focused on his exam. I went to triage (7am) and they began to monitor me. I seriously thought they were going to send me home but I told the nurse about Bret's final anyways and requested to put off delivering London until at least 3pm if at all possible. Surprisingly around 9am the nurse came back in and told me to inform Bret London was scheduled to be delivered right at 3pm. That was cutting it close but fortunately the OR was backed up so when Bret arrived at the hospital at 3:45pm we were just being prepped for the OR. We had just enough time for me to complain about being hungry and for Bret to suit up and you all know Bret's entertaining delivery room fiasco. It was such a MIRACLE for her to be born exactly when she was. It allowed Bret to get his final behind him (which he PASSED with flying colors) as well as attend the birth of our daughter. Even though we were scheduled for Sunday, Thursday was a much better alternative because Bret was able to stay at the hospital with us and enjoy the first few days with his daughter. Now that I am at home with help he is able to go to school all day to study for his CPA exam. 3 more days and Bret is liberated from studying!!! well for a short minute or two anyways.
As most of you know we didn't "plan" to conceive London but thankfully we did because it has been the greatest challenge and blessing for our family. I know we have grown closer and stronger through out this pregnancy and everything has worked out for our better. We are so blessed by Heavenly Father I frequently feel undeserving of so many amazing blessings. There are risks to having babies so close together. These risks became very real to us in the delivery room. As the doctor opened me up we both heard her audible gasp. When we asked what the shock was all about she told us to be very thankful I had gone into labor early. My uterus had been stretched so thin she said it would not have gone another day with out rupturing. If I had tried to deliver vaginally or waited until Sunday it would have been a horrible disaster. There are multiple things that go wrong when the uterus ruptures and both the mother and baby experience major health risks or die. Even if we had both survived my baby making days would for sure have been OVER. Thankfully, all went well and the doctor fixed me up magnificently. Having my ability to conceive almost taken away made me realize how lucky I am and that I for sure want more children. However, Bret and I will be taking extreme measures to ensure I don't get pregnant for a long time. So far so good, I'm not pregnant yet.
And finally, this precious baby I get to call my own is my favorite miracle. It's amazing how instant and how all encompassing the love for a child is at first site. Looking at her face I wonder how I ever lived with out her. She is so beautiful to me and she has made our family more fulfilled. I love my big boy Kingston and my baby girl London and the husband that supports us all. Again, I feel guilty to have so many enriching blessings in my life. It can't be fair for me to have everything I want and yet I do. On top of that I have the sweetest family on BOTH sides and amazing friends to speak of. Life doesn't get any better! (well, I suppose it will be a little better when my chest stops bursting and my ab muscles grow back, haha) but I truly could not be happier right now.
I was so happy they let me come home 1 day early (Saturday) so I could enjoy my family in my own home. Things have been eventful here but we are enjoying every second. Hooray for narcotics and breast pumps! We are just taking it easy and being lazy. London has been the easiest baby so far, even easier than Kingston believe it or not. I just love her!

Thanks again to everyone for your support, comments and help. We are so thankful to all of you!
ps. We have been more than happy to welcome visitors so don't be shy.

Happy Birthday London!

So, here's the story of our little lady London's birthday. There are a whole lot of pics below and I wanted to add some sweet video clips that would have detailed everything out, but blogger was having a hard time with the videos, so I'll go with what I got. Our tale starts out Wednesday night. Becki didn't sleep much that night and she started having some serious contraction action. I was up early studying for my last final of this semester later that day when Becki told me to take Kingston to our neighbor's (Thanks Heather!) because she was on her way in to get checked out. I was instructed to go about my day as planned until further notice. So I went to work then to school and took my 3rd final in 3 days. Meanwhile, Becki's contractions progressed and it was concluded that today was the day of deliverance. Here is my beautiful bride below waiting so patiently in triage all day until the Dr.'s (and me) were ready for the C-section. I got to the Chandler Regional Medical Center around 3:20. By 5:00 we were all ready to go into the O.R. to have ourselves a baby. I'm not gonna lie, I really enjoyed wearing the scrubs and the hair net. Maybe a career as a lunch lady would've been a better choice for me.

Becki's sister Carli kept Becki company that morning as she waited for surgery.

All right it's go time! I think they call that a hitchhiker's thumb. I know...pretty sweet.

Becki was so excited to be having London. Here she is in the O.R. all drugged up and getting sliced open but just smiling away! I must say, I'm all for medical advancements that make our lives easier. With Kingston I didn't even look so this time I wanted to. If you know me, then you know stories about me fainting as I pulled a splinter out of my pinkie when I was like 9, passing out when I was 12 getting my blood pressure taken, fainting 3 times getting my shots for my mission, and again passing out on a first date just from her telling me a gruesome story. Well, I didn't pass out as I watched the Dr.'s work away or as I smelled the cauterizing of...well...my wife, but I did get very naucious and "green" as the nurses told me. They ended up wheeling me out in a wheel chair right after London came out. I'm just glad I didn't faint and got to experience the birth. I wanted to post some of the bloody pics to show why I got sick, but I decided they're too gross for the general public, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Here's my baby girl London! She yelped for just a minute, but is so calm and content. Is it just me, or isn't she a good looking baby? I mean, Kingston was all weird looking and squished and had a really odd shaped head. But London was hardly nicked up at all. That's my girl!

After I recovered I got to hold my baby for the first time. Man, what a moment. It's so surreal to hold your own baby. Cool feeling. Very cool.

She weighed in at 7 pounds 2 ounces (just 3 oz bigger than King) and was 20 inches long (1 inch longer).

Before her bath:

And after: I'm telling you, she's such a good looking baby! Like not even a scratch on her.

After she got all weighed, measured and bathed, she got to go back and see Mommy. Becki was all stitched up and was feeling naucious from all the meds (she puked a few times) but was so excited to get to see her precious baby doll.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit that night to meet their new beautiful granddaughter. They are taking care of Kingston for now which is a huge help. I think London has already stolen her Grandma's heart.

One of Becki's best friends Rennai was there from about 5pm on. She brought Becki and London amazing flowers and brought me some Chipotle for dinner. Thank you soooo much Rennai for everything.

London was pretty tuckered out from the whole ordeal and didn't seem to want to party too much for her birthday. She preferred to just sleep. Becki made her this pink beanie. Her first little outfit. I'll say it with you, "Ahhh."

We are so glad that everything went so great. The timing was just perfect. Becki was so ready to have her and I just got done with finals. A few other little miracles happened along the way. We feel so blessed to have her and Becki healthy and strong.

Mamma and little lady London. Her middle name is Ily which stands for I Love You. Becki and I always say it to each other when we text each other and it was a name Becki thought of years ago. I've always liked it and like that it's different and unique and has significant meaning to us. I think we'll be saying it a lot to our little girl as well.

Again, happy Birthday London!

Lazy Boy

Camera Phone

I was going though the pics on my phone and found some funny ones from the last few months. Yay for having a camera phone handy when you don't have a camera.

Here is Kingston modeling one of London's dresses for us. If she looks anything like KB she will be such a pretty girl. Yes, Bret was 100% against this activity.
Mommy wasn't quick enough getting KB down for his nap so he fell asleep mid playtime in the the middle of the living room. Haha.
Kingston drinking his own yoohoo at 11 months. Gotta love the weird chocolate drink made from earths mystery chemicals.
The toy box is always more entertaining then the toys in it.
Kingston learned to color in nursery and now it's one of his favorite things to do.
Using my tummy as a recliner...
Using my tummy as a sketch pad.
Kingston's chillax chair for his videos.