Friday, December 14, 2012

Pierce's Baby Blessing

Pierce is already so loved! We had such great support for his blessing. Pierce was given a name and blessing by his father surrounded by the loving priesthood holders including Great-grandpa Sterling, Grandpa Brad Colton, Uncle Thomas, Jared, Uncle Steve, "Uncle" Chase, Nate, Scott Hugely and Bishop Wilcox. I am sure Grandpa Pierce was also making his presence and blessing known.
As a mother, I had envisioned this moment for years. My husband giving this powerful baby blessing, my beautiful baby wearing the perfect outfit and being presented to the ward smiling while the entire congregation awed over this precious little babe. Driving over to the church Pierce was smiling and cooing. All was going just according to plan. As the bishop announced that there were going to be two blessings that day and Pierce would be second, Pierce started crying uncontrollably. He apparently wanted to be first. Melanie rushed Pierce out to try to calm him down. I sat in the pew with Scott praying that he would calm down. My perfect vision was quickly fading as I could here to echoes of his cry out in the hall. As the first blessing came to a close, I noticed that Pierce had calmed down somewhat. The blessing commenced but before long Pierce started to wail. Scott amazingly stayed focused and gave a beautiful blessing although I'm not sure many people could hear it. Instead of a sweet smiling baby, Pierce had a pacifier in his mouth and was red faced from tears. Instead of my sweet white outfit, he was swaddled in a blanket to keep him calm. My first lesson in motherhood, you are no longer in control.






Thanksgiving!!!

This year for Thanksgiving we spent the holiday at home in Maryland. We were blessed to be joined by most of the Colton clan as well as my mother and younger sister Brooklyn. It was wonderful to have  gathered many of our dearest kin to celebrate both Thanksgiving and Pierce's baby blessing. My mom came bearing the gift of sleep. She stayed in with Pierce the four nights she was here and allowed me to sleep. The women is a saint. She returned on a late night flight Sunday and proceeded to work a full work week after serious sleep deprivation. Thus this Thanksgiving I am grateful to have a mother who still takes care of her little girl. 


 My attempt at an apple pie...for the record it tasted better than it looks.


The Cash Coltons spent Thanksgiving with us!  Pierce is big Meredith and Jared fan!!


The two best mothers and grandmothers!
 Brooklyn and I were in charge of pies., we may have bought half of them from Costco...shhh

Th feast begins!


Bath time with grandma after a full day of eating. He is enthralled by his grandma!

His beautiful Aunt Brooklyn was a big hit with Pierce. She came out early to visit me and we worked on her applications for college! I can't believe she is so old!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Family Christmas Pictures!!!

Family Christmas Pictures

Baby Eliza and Pierce in there matching outfits! Can't get enough of the smug face Pierce is wearing!!!

Pierce is such a happy baby and loves the attention of his parents!

                                       

 Best Friends and sister-in-laws... best idea we've ever had, having a baby at the same time!
The three bald amigos! Bald is beautiful!
                                                    Grandma Pierce with baby Pierce!


Pierce in his blessing outfit

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Botanical Gardens!!

Pierce and I have been enjoying going on play dates with other kids. Today we went to the Brookespring botanical gardens with the Rileys! Once again I cannot get enough of the beautiful fall colors here in Maryland!






Six Weeks Old!!!

Pierce is starting to like to play with mobiles, is smiling all the time and laughs! Despite these new found discoveries, he has been loosing his hair. He is now sporting a receding hair line. Grandpa Colton is quite proud to not be the old bald one in the house claiming "bald is beautiful!"I think I agree!




Thursday, November 1, 2012

Halloween

The zookeepers with their baby giraffe!!!!


Pierce made his debut by trick-or-treating at GGma's house next door!

Pierce loves his GGpa


Pierce has those gorgeous Colton eyes. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!


Check out that tail... probably my favorite part of the costume.  Love that little giraffe!

Fall Fun!


Our first outing as a family was to the pumpkin patch in Leesburg, Virgina We had such a fun time with our friends Ashley and Andrew and their darling daughter JoAnna. The random animals that came along with the pumpkin patch was the highlight.

King Julian aka a lemur 




Yes there was even a hay ride!!!

I have absolutely fallen in love with the fall in Maryland. The vibrant fall colors and cool crisp weather are my favorite perks of living on the east coast. Here is a few shots of Pierce at one month old!!!







Sunday, October 14, 2012

Introducing Pierce Bradley!!!



Pierce is here! I was induced on September 25th, two days after his due date. Although I was ready for him to come much earlier, his timing was quite nice as my mom made it from San Diego and Scott was able to take his scheduled exam the day before. We checked into the hospital at 7 am and I was taken back to the hospital room at 8 am.  They started the pitocin drip around 10:30 am.  Shortly there after the doctor (Dr. Apgar) came in and broke my water. I worked through most of the contractions bouncing on a medicine ball and swaying with Scott. At 15 minutes until 1pm the nurse had turned up the pitocin drip and the contractions became significantly more intense. I asked for an epidural at that point. The anesthesiologist took over an hour to come, he administered the epidural and left. Unfortunately the first epidural did not work. After another hour the anesthesiologist came back. At this point I was vomiting from the intensity of the contractions that were coming every 20-30 seconds. Thankfully the second epidural worked. What a wonderful concoction! The doctor checked me at that point and I was 9cm dilated and 100% effaced. We were ready to push! The doctor had me rest and then we started pushing. Pierce came out at exactly 5pm weighing 6 lbs 11 ounces and 18 3/4 inches long!  



Getting checked in!


Don't know what I would have done without my mom!


Pierce arrives!!!




Lots of love from his grandparents!

We are so in love with our little boy. We feel so blessed that he is healthy and happy. In becoming a mother, I am beginning to understand the love our Heavenly Father has for his children. I am amazed at how my heart is already completely wrapped around this tiny perfect person. We think he is pretty great and are excited for our  friends and loved ones to meet our little treasure.