LOTS of PICTURES

Here is some pictures of Rigden's 1st Christmas and
first time going to Church-he did so good at both!

Sorry I had to post this picture again I Love my Baby!
Hope everyone had a Merry CHRISTmas we sure did :)
I'm getting better and better everyday (recovery wise)
from having a baby and gallbladder surgery, I still have staples
in my stomach so that's the only uncomfortable thing but...
other than that we are just lovin life with the baby :)

Just recovering from Surgery :(

So I just got back from a lovely stay at the hospital! I had to have my gallbladder taken out. It wasn't exactly the greatest experience in the world (haha)
I woke up in the middle of the night on Saturday/early Sunday and just had the worst pain ever. I threw up and was just dying so we packed the baby really quick and went to the closest E.R. Where they told me I had gall stones in my gallbladder and I needed to have surgery to remove the gallbladder. They gave me morphine to help with the pain but it just made it bearable but did not take the pain away. Anyways the next day Monday (yesterday) I had the surgery.

The surgery they did was make 4 holes in my stomach and they blow your stomach up with gas then they stick a camera and instruments in the holes to remove the gallbladder. So I'm just recovering slowly my stomach is pretty sore. But we are hanging in there :)

(this picture is from Friday night)
But I'm so glad to be home now with my baby
I missed him SoOo much!

I'll post more pictures of Rigden soon
here is his first bath I don't think it was his favorite!
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas this year :)

Letter to Rigden

Dear Rigden,
Do you remember when your Mom and Dad first met...? How we fell in love, remember when Dad told Mom he loved her for the first time...remember it was on her birthday. Do you remember when Mom and Dad decided to get married, remember that special day in the temple, Mom felt like a princess (and looked like one to if I don't say so myself) remember when Mom and Dad kneeled across from each other at the alter, remember that great happiness we felt as we became an eternal family.

Remember how Mom and Dad worked hard that first year of marriage and saved all their monies. Remember when Mom finally convinced Dad it was time to start their family (it was actually when we had been married 9 months so not quite a year) Remember how each month would pass and Mom wouldn't get pregnant remember how devastated we were. Do you remember hearing mommas prayers up in heaven, remember how Mom would cry to Heavenly Father and pray with every fiber in her so she could get pregnant. Remember how Mom would tell Heavenly Father how much she wanted to be a mother, how much she wanted to do her part in his plan of Happiness. More months passed and Mom and Dad began to realize the trial they were called to bear. But remember how Mom and Dad found comfort, when we prayed and went to the temple the spirit always comforted us and told momma it would be soon.

Remember 3 months before Mom got pregnant, we were at the temple and Mom was crying and praying to Heavenly Father because she needed his comfort again. And the spirit said so strong, "your right" Momma didn't understand but the spirit whispered a couple more times, "your right" Mom finally turned to her right and the lady sitting next to her was pregnant. Mom didn't fully understand what this meant. Next month Mom and Dad went to the temple again and Mom couldn't help but wonder when she would get to be a Mom as she was wondering this the lady sitting next to her began telling her how she just had a baby. Again Mom didn't quite understand but the next month at the temple Mom finally understood the lady she was sitting next to was again another pregnant lady so Mom cried to Heavenly Father, "what does this all mean" and the spirit whispered, "you are so close to being pregnant" Remember the happiness Mom felt. And the next month we did get pregnant!

Remember the look on Mom's face when she found out! Remember how her hands shook and her eyes welled up with tears. Remember how Mom ran as fast as she could into the bedroom and fell on her knees and thanked Heavenly Father a billions times over! Remember how Mom told Heavenly Father she would be the best Mom in the World and then thanked Heavenly Father a billion times again! Remember when Mom told Dad, he thought she got stung by a scorpion because she was crying (that was funny) Oh just remember the joy we felt! Mom smiled all the the way to work that day, remember Mom was a nanny and when she got to work she ran inside and told the cleaning lady! Remember the joy as we told everyone on planet earth!

Remember though just a little while later Mom had some complications and she went to the Doctor. The Doctor gave her papers about miscarriage and sent her home after she told Momma that she was not having a baby. Mom and Dad were so beyond devastated we couldn't really talk no words could describe the pain or confusion we felt. Mom cried and cried and prayed to Heavenly Father but to Mommas surprise the spirit whispered, "no Amy you are fine, everything is okay" It was hard for a second to trust the spirit instead of our Doctor but we knew that's what we had to do we had to have faith! And sure enough after a long wait we found we were really pregnant and everything was okay!

After a fun nine months now you are finally here and you came on Thanksgiving Day I just love that! You are the definition of a blessing Rigden. Our love for you is indescribable, please always remember the great love we have for you and the great love Heavenly Father has for you too! So glad I get to be a Mom, so glad you get to be my son! Love you baby Riggs :)

Love,
Your very grateful Mom & Dad!

Remember how you are the cutest baby in the World? We Do!

Rigden's 1st Week and 1/2

Our little All-Star has been such a JOy!
he loves to be independent (see him holding his binky)

Rigden loves being wrapped Up like a burrito and
he loves when we rub his head and sing him Christmas songs
Which is weird bc I can't really say I'm the best singer..

He loves his Daddy and his Momma (of course)
I love seeing Nate and Rigden together-adorable!

haHa we love when he does this he is so laid back!

Rigden helped momma Deck the Halls I made these jars
using stuff from the Dollar Store,
the letters are vinyl but stickers would work too

Nate's sister Kim made those blocks for us so CUTE!

I made this wreath for 5 dollars again courtesy
of the Dollar Store (Dollar Tree)

Our Christmas tree Rigden can't ruin it this year...Right?

Go check out the dollar store I'm serious!

We are just so HapPy (and tired) but mainly just HapPy!
Life is defiantly different now But it is for the Better we
are so blessed, Rigden is such a sweet spirit and constantly
reminds us of the Love our Saviour has for us. I'm so grateful
Heavenly Father has trusted us to raise such a wonderful Son
of God. We love Rigden so much can't believe we were once
upon a time without him. He is AMaZiNG and perfect.

OUR BABY IS HERE!!!

Rigden Donald Crandell (cutest baby in the world)
7 pounds 1 ounce
21 inches long
Born on Thanksgiving Day 11/26/09 at 4:00 p.m.

right when he came out! words can't describe the happiness!

Birth Story: on wednesday (the day before thanksgiving) I went to my regular dr.'s apt I mentioned to my doctor that over the past 5 days I had been waking up and feeling a little wet down there. She immediately did an ultrasound and told me my water had been leaking slowly.

Then she said: Well you won't be having thanksgiving with your family
Me: hmm..? I'm sorry what???
Doctor: you need to drive to the hospital right now, I'll meet you there
Me: hmm....? I'm sorry what???
Doctor: Amy calm down (gives me a hug) I'll meet you there okay!
Me: oh okay....uhh??? I was going to go home and put the Christmas tree up today

I left my doctors like freaking out I called Nate and of course he didn't believe me because I'm sorta a tease. But he met me there and they induced me it didn't work the first day (which was a long morning, day and night by the way) but it worked the next day on Thanksgiving it went soo quick I felt like the nurses were like every second she's at a 6 now 9 now oh get the Doctor she's going to have the baby! And I pushed for an hour but really it felt like 20 minutes and our sweet little angel was here!!! Everything was magical well until the epidural wore off, of course...:)

I know I look like death in this picture but really I couldn't
be happier! I'm serious when I say my dreams have come true!

there is nothing cuter than this daddy and his little boy!
and believe you me Nate is the cutest and most perfect dad :)

so in love with him!!! We are still in shock he came 2 weeks early
and that he is really here with us. We love him to pieces, I love
how he came on Thanksgiving he has been a blessing in our lives
from the moment we found out we were having him! Is there
a better word for grateful because that's how we feel!

WHAT?!

Thought I'd share with you my most recent Dr.'s Apt.
(keep in mind as I'm nearing the end the exams have started)

oh...you don't know what an exam is? I envy you!

Dr. Hi Amy, how are you?
Me: Oh pretty good how are you?

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah....

NOW this is when I start freaking out bc the exam is about to start I do everything I can to stall time and ask as many questions as I possibly can...none the less she begins walking towards me with her gloves on...this is a very scary moment in time

Me: oh crap..oh crap YOU know what! my belly button has been hurting what do think about that....? what are your uh what are your thoughts on that!?
Dr: okay honey lay down on your back
Me: but my belly button...AHHHHHHHH crumba!

(she has started the exam f.y.i.)

Dr: okay honey about your belly button, you have a hernia, BIG words blah blah BIG words honey you need to relax! anyways you have a hernia blah blah blah...
Me: (dying but laughing) is she for real?

exam has ended/my prayers have been answered

Dr: Okay did you hear what I said about your belly button?
Me: (no I was a little tied up at the time) did I hear you say...hernia my Dad had one when we made him jump on the tramp with us...he had to go to the hospital!
Dr: Yep your fine! Baby is about 7 pounds I'd say 6 lbs 10 ounces
Me: DADgum! So is 6 lbs 10 ounces almost 7 pounds?
Dr: When your dilated to a 10 that's when you'll have your baby
Me: Wha...?! no (I repeat the question)
Dr: There are 16 ounces in a pound
Me: Wha...?! (I guess she is not going to anzzzwer my question)
Dr: okay good seeing ya, see ya next week!
Me: right....

Door closes

Me: so I have a hernia?! and the baby is almost 7 pounds! theres 16 ounces in a pound WHAT DOES THIS all MEAN! thank goodness for google when I get home!

anyways just thought I'd share what happened...
just a little confused that's all! 3 more weeks my Dr. thinks
it might be sooner but can we trust her....? I dunno!

2 Subjects

Nate's little brother Taylor left on his Mission!

I'm so glad Nate set a good example for his
little brother, it was cute to see Nate crying and to see
how proud he was of his brother and how much
he was going to miss him!

I'm going to miss Taylor too so crazy that he is gone.
We know he will be an awesome missionary though!

change of subject.......
This picture is like 10 months old when Nate and I were
babysitting our nieces and nephews. Nate is just so cute with
little kids, I can't help but get excited about how great of a DAD
he is going to BE! When I took this picture it was at a time
when we had been trying and trying to get pregnant for like 9
months it was getting a little frustrating little did we know
the NEXT month we'd get pregnant with Nate's little twin
and now here we are just 4 weeks away from our dream come true
and life couldn't be better I especially love when Nate comes
home from work and goes straight to the back yard to work
on it, when I ask aren't you tired? He say's, "ya but I want
Rigden to be able to run around in the grass out here." Or when
all he talks about is putting in fruit tree's so Rigden can have
orange slices at his games haha :) My favorite is when he cups his
hands and talks to my belly/rigden and says, "We are going to have
so much fun when you get here, we are going to play tricks on
mom all the time." HAha this is why I love Nate and why 4 weeks
really can't come any sooner, I'm dying here with exciment!

HaLLOwEeN WeEkeNd!

Friday night we went to a costume Partay Yes Nate
is a Farmer and I'm his CoW (well fat cow) and yes I made
my costume I don't know how to sew so I had to hot glue gun
everything and I burnt my fingers 7 times I'm not just saying
Oh my gosh I burnt my fingers like 7 times..I'M SERIOUS I BURNT
my fingers 7 TIMES...but it was worth it right.........?

hahaha we look like death! this is the end of Halloween night
at my parents we were so tired my niece took my cow ears and
and I think some of my hair along with it. and OH SO FUNNY
whenever Rigden kicked, my utters would wiggle and move!

Since we only passed out candy to like 5 trick or treaters
I'm wondering where all the rest of the candy went t0
just kidding I know exactly where it went I have a condition...
I'm SERIOUS!!!!AND REAL quick can we talk about Paydays
okay when I was little my Mom asked if I wanted a Payday,
I said, "HECK ya I want a Payday"
(thinking it was a day you get paid money)
Then when I received this
candy bar made of nuts and goo instead of a wade of cash...
well lets just say I've never liked paydays since and we
gave those to the few trick or treaters we had.
Rude I know but whatev!
Now it's almost Thanksgiving and that means
Rigden will be here a fewdays later Can't even contain
the excitement I'm going to be oneof those moms where
their baby poops in her face and she just smiles
and say's, "you are just the cutest baby in the WORLD"

NURSERY and SHOWER!

yay! the nursery is done!!!

the crib was painted white...
but then my sister and I decided when Nate was
out of town that it needed to be black...hehe

My sister and her Mother-in-Law made
the bumper and crib sheet so nice of them!

I hope Rigden doesn't get afraid of
the animal skin on the wall...it is kinda scary!

I love the glider thanks to all who pitched in!

those cute little boots are from
my sister her little boys used to wear them

I had to put Buck-A-Roo
vinyl somewhere up in his room

I'm so glad the nursery is finished!

well this is my new favorite room
I LoVE coming in here and just sitting in
the glider and thinking about Rigden (of course)

Lots of my friends from the Shower!! I feel bad
I really don't have to many pictures from the shower
on my camera. Thank You though to all who came and helped!
It was so much fun to see everyone (and get lots of gifts)

Baby Bump Photo Shoot!

I totally stole these from Angela's Photography blog!
But I couldn't wait any longer to share them
you can click on the pictures to see them bigger...enjoy!

I LOvE them aLL!!!
Angela is defiantly an Amazing Photographer!
Also this weekend is my Baby Shower finally
we are very excited for that I'll post about that and the NURSERY!